Bull vs Bear Market: What Investors Need to Know The Motley Fool

what is bearish and bullish

Depending on the company, the stock may never appreciate, and companies can go bankrupt during bear markets. A bear market describes a decline in average stock prices like the S&P 500, whereas a recession describes a slowing of economic output in a country. Economic output is the total value of goods produced and services provided by a country and is also known as gross domestic product, or GDP. The 1929 stock market crash ushered in the longest bear market at more than 32 months.

Bullish short-term trading

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The Origins of the Term “Bearish”

In a bear market, supply is greater than demand — and investors look to offload their shares when there is not a lot of demand for market participants to buy. A bear market is challenging for investors a complete guide to the futures market because stock prices keep falling, and that means more losses in an investment portfolio. When bears attack, they swipe their paws in a downward motion and often in fear. When investors are bearish, they do not have confidence in stocks and usually end up selling off some of their investments.

You may also want to consult with a financial advisor to make sure you have the right diversification and investment mix. The pairing of bulls and bears also drew inspiration from popular culture, bulls and bears were often portrayed as rivals. Paintings and illustrations in financial newspapers depicted battles between the two animals, symbolizing the tug-of-war between client sentiment market optimism and pessimism.

  1. In such times, investors often have faith that the uptrend will continue over the long term.
  2. A declining unemployment rate is consistent with a bull market, while a rising unemployment rate occurs during a bear market.
  3. The larger stock market is made up of multiple sectors you may want to invest in.
  4. Recessions are formally declared when GDP decreases for two consecutive quarters, while depressions occur when GDP decreases by 10% or more and the downturn lasts for at least two years.
  5. Typically, a bull market is thought to have occurred when prices have risen 20 percent or more off a recent low.
  6. A rising unemployment rate tends to prolong a bear market since fewer people are earning wages, which results in reduced revenue for many companies.

A bullish market in crypto means the value of the cryptocurrency will increase, while a bearish market means the asset will go in the opposite direction. The terms bullish and bearish have historically been used in the context of the stock market. But these terms can apply to any market, including the cryptocurrency market.

Supply and Demand for Securities

That way, when markets rebound, as they always do, the investor does not have to “time the market” or find an optimal point in which to jump in. For information pertaining to the registration status of 11 Financial, please contact the state securities regulators for those states in which 11 Financial maintains a registration filing. 11 Financial is a registered investment adviser located in Lufkin, Texas.

what is bearish and bullish

That way, you can learn which strategies work best within each, respectively. You have to build a playbook if you are a trader or investor. In financial contexts, the term “bull” appears to have solidified in the 18th century during the rise of stock trading in London. Traders began using the term “bull” to describe those who expected stock prices to rise and bought securities in anticipation of selling them at a profit. Bulls think prices are going higher, while bears think they’re headed lower. Try not to get caught up in trying to anticipate when a bull or bear market might begin or end.