Bull Market Definition, Characteristics, & Examples

Globalization resulted in an increase in trade across the world and has made international investment more prevalent. „Reaganomics“ Era – Investor confidence was boosted by low inflation following the 70s inflation crisis and low tax policy. The most widely used numerical target to determine a Bull Market is when general stock values gain 20% after two declines of 20% each. In 1989, sculptor Arturo di Modica installed a bronze bull on Broadway at Bowling Green Park in Manhattan’s financial district. He created it as a symbol of defiance after the turbulent Stock Market Crash of 1987.

9k= Bull Market Definition, Characteristics, & Examples

During this time, the S&P 500 increased by a significant margin after a previous decline; as the 2008 financial crisis took effect, major declines occurred again after the bull market run. The commonly accepted definition of a bull market is when stock prices rise by 20% after two declines of 20% each. In fact, from 1995 to 2000 alone, NASDAQ company stock prices grew more than 400%. However, while the bull run ended in 2000, the full crash did not occur until 2002. When the bubble burst, it wiped out many tech companies that previously had strong valuations. While acceptable P/E ratios depend on industries and other factors, this is always worth considering if you are investing in bull markets.

Bull Market Characteristics

It went from 6,594.44 in 2009, to a high of 29,551.42 on February 12, 2020, returning 348%. The upswing or increase indicates a bull market; a bull swipes „up“ with its horns to attack. The most recent bull market is the longest in history; it went from 6,594.44 in 2009, to 29,551.42, its high on February 12, 2020, returning 348%. There are dozens of historical examples of Bear and Bull Markets that have occurred in the U.S. economy.

Z Bull Market Definition, Characteristics, & Examples

Later, the market crashed with the Suez Canal crisis and the Soviet Union’s invasion, causing a dip – a minor bear market amidst the S&P 500, which fell by 22%. A bull market is the condition of a broad market or a single market in which prices are continuously rising. If you’re looking for minimal effort and solid returns, buying an S&P 500 index fund and holding it for years has worked great for many investors. But if you try to actively trade it, odds are that you’ll massively underperform. Titan Global Capital Management USA LLC („Titan“) is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). By using this website, you accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Definition and Examples of a Bull Market

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  • The ability to maximize the potential of the instruments available in any market is essential to achieving success.
  • In addition, there will be a general increase in the amount of IPO activity during bull markets.
  • There was a market correction between April and June 2010, when the S&P 500 went from above 1,200 to near 1,000.
  • During these times, there is a strong overall demand for stocks, and the general „tone“ of market commentary tends to be positive.
  • A bull market is a financial market characterized by rising prices and investor optimism.
  • Despite some sharp decreases and market corrections along the way, prices have now reached an overall high.

At 20%, the bull market is mourned by investors as the bear market begins. The same percentages are used when prices begin to rise to announce the return of a bull market. This happens when stocks, industries, real estate, or other assets rapidly rise without underlying fundamental justification. trend trading The dot-com bubble, which grew in the late ‘90s and burst in 2000, is one such example. After a period of “irrational exuberance,” the tech sector witnessed a frenzied selloff, and the NASDAQ exchange, which was made up of technology companies, lost more than 75% of its value.

A bear market is typically defined as when stocks fall by 20% or more after a 20% peak. Bull and bear markets are used when describing the trends ofsecurities. These include stocks, bonds, commodities, and other types of investments. Investors can also take a bullish or bearish stance, depending upon their outlook. When a market is doing well, the prices in that market will increase.

The S&P surged by over 400%, driven by economic growth and stable inflation. It can happen in line with strong gross domestic product growth, as well as a drop in unemployment. However, usually, stock prices start rising before GDP growth, one of the key indicators to show how healthy the current economy is. If businesses improve their profitability, atc brokers forex broker introduction it shows potential and encourages investors to buy their stocks, lured by a high return on investment. Usually, in a bull phase, several private companies choose to issue an initial public offering , driven by healthy economic conditions and high investor confidence. If prices fall 10% or less, it is considered to be amarket correction.

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Bull Market in Bitcoin

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master’s in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology.

9k= Bull Market Definition, Characteristics, & Examples

These include an increase in trading volume, as more investors are willing to buy and hold onto securities in the hopes of realizing capital gains. Securities in a bull market also tend to receive higher valuations, as investors are willing to pay more for them due to the perceived potential for price appreciation. The opposite of a bull market is a bear market, when prices trend downward. Theoretically speaking, the best time to buy in a bull market is at the start of the bull run. This approach will see the most return for your money if you sell your shares at the top of the market. However, knowing that a bull run is starting is next to impossible and picking the perfect time to sell your shares is also extremely difficult.

As prices reach their peak, sell pressure begins, and investors begin seeking a way out. Investors start to focus on different investment strategies, such as short selling. A bull market generally lasts until prices have risen for so long that investors begin to believe that prices will continue going up.

Much of the volatility in markets is due to investor sentiment, or how investors in general feel prices are going to swing. World events, the business cycle, and the opinions of investing icons are all examples of factors that influence investors to cause price fluctuations. The South Sea Bubble gets its name from the South Sea Company, founded in 1711 to trade with Spain’s colonies in the New World.

If analysts believe that a specific stock price will decrease in the future, they say they are “bearish” about a stock. Companies that sell products directly to consumers have proven themselves over decades. Bull markets in recent years have tended to be powered by such companies, but more importantly, they may be a decent safe harbor during downturns as well. Consider investing in these equities, or in a large-cap mutual fund with such stalwarts. Bull markets are usually accompanied by high investor confidence and a strong overall economy.

What is the Stock Market? | The Stock Market Explained

This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Banks and subprime lenders kept up the boom pace by selling mortgages on the secondary market to free up money for additional loans. When interest rates started to climb and the millions who had borrowed to buy houses they couldn’t afford began to default, the subprime mortgage crisis began. Banks folded, the government was forced to intervene and bail out the U.S. banking system, and the bull market ended in October 2007 as a recession began. In 2001, in response to an already struggling economy, the Federal Reserve began cutting the federal funds rate in order to encourage borrowing and spur spending.

Main characteristics of a bull market

The image below shows a trend observed by the Dow Industrials between 1949 and 1956, presenting a zig-zag line but generally swinging upward over a long period. This trend includes numerous market corrections, as well as brief bear markets. However, the general trend was trending upward over those 86 months.

It typically comes at the end of a downtrend, when everything seems at its worst. But, it’s also the time when prices are at their most attractive, because by this stage most of the bad news has already been priced in. The accumulation phase can be hard to spot and often comes amid continuing market pessimism, with many investors believing things can only get worse. The start of the accumulation phase sees a period of price consolidation, and during later stages of this phase the price of the market starts to move higher.

Post-war boom – 1949 to 1956 (86 months)

The opposite of a bull market is a bear market, which is typically defined as stocks falling by 20% or more from a recent peak. Bear markets are often accompanied by recessions, falling investor confidence, and declines in corporate profits. Bull markets generally take place when the economy is strengthening or when it is already strong. They tend to happen in line with strong gross domestic product and a drop in unemployment and will often coincide with a rise in corporate profits.

A bear market is the opposite of a bull market since a bear market is where prices of stocks, securities, or assets continue to decline over some time. ​​A bull market usually means that there has been a 20% rise in prices over some time , after a previous 20% decline, followed by another 20% decrease. If the prices rise or fall 10% or less, it is considered a market correction phase. When prices fail to fall over time, investors enter a state ofirrational exuberance. They begin bidding prices above the actual underlying value, wildly over-valuing the investments. This creates what is known as anasset bubble, where prices rise until the supply of the assets resists any more rise in price.

How Does a Bull Market Work?

The longest bull market in the history of the S&P 500 index lasted from March 2009 to February 2020 and saw the index gain over 300%. Bronte is a designer and marketer based in Los Angeles, CA. She has been creating and promoting content for over 3 years, covering a range of topics in the payment processing industry. Bronte is currently the Director of Marketing at PaymentCloud, a merchant services provider that offers hard-to-place solutions for business owners across the nation.

Investors begin to panic and sell; the bubble bursts and prices begin to fall. A bull market is an extended time period of stock values increasing and the overall stock market rising. A bear market is the opposite, a time period of stock market decline. A bull market is a period of rising prices, particularly one where the rise is sustained over time, often with a stock or other asset repeatedly setting new highs. A bull market can refer to the price action on a single security or for a specific market as a whole.