What is a Bear Market & Bull Market?

Bull Market vs. Bear Market

A bull market is a market that is on the rise and where the conditions of the economy are generally favorable. A bear market exists in an economy that is receding and where most stocks are declining in value. Because the financial markets are greatly influenced by investors’ attitudes, these terms also denote how investors feel about the market and the ensuing economic trends.

A bull market is typified by a sustained increase in prices. In the case of equity markets, a bull market denotes a rise in the prices of companies’ shares. In such times, investors often have faith that the uptrend will continue over the long term. In this scenario, the country’s economy is typically strong and employment levels are high.

By contrast, a bear market is one that is in decline. A market is usually not considered a true “bear” market unless it has fallen 20% or more from recent highs. In a bear market, share prices are continuously dropping. This results in a downward trend that investors believe will continue; this belief, in turn, perpetuates the downward spiral. During a bear market, the economy slows down and unemployment rises as companies begin laying off workers.

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