“Bear” and “bull” are two terms used to describe different parts of the market cycle, and they can tell investors a lot about what’s going on in the economy.

The bear and the bull The terms bear market and bull market are two of the most commonly referenced in the financial world, but they're not quite as dangerous as they might sound.

Key Takeaways Bull markets are typically designated by media outlets as a rise of 20% or more from a near-term low. Likewise, bear markets are called when an asset falls by 20% from its high ...

A bull market is similarly used as a nickname to describe stock market indexes, but with a much different impact. While bear markets describe market declines, bull markets describe a surging market.

Identify a bull or bear market by watching price trends, trading volumes, investor sentiment, economic signals and whether optimism or fear drives the action. Not sure if you’re in a bull or ...

Bull markets are characterized by investor optimism and sustained growth that fuels gains across most sectors. That’s why the saying “anything works in a bull market” is largely true.

Bull market vs. bear market It can be helpful to think of bull and bear markets as generally opposites to one another, but here’s a side-by-side look at what each type entails.