Bull vs Bear Overview, Market Phases, and Factors

Bull and Bear Market: Definition & Difference

A bullish investor believes stock prices will rise, so they want to buy to benefit from the price increase. Bearish investors believe prices will drop, so they sell, buy, then sell, and take advantage of the dropping prices. During a bull market, there are several characteristics that can be observed.

Lulu and Peloton’s new partnership, dud stocks of the past century, a look at the world’s stock markets and… Paré says that valuation metrics such as PE ratio and dividend yield Bull and Bear Market: Definition & Difference can give investors clues about where they are in the bull-bear cycle. Between 1926 and 2019, the average bull market lasted 6.6 years and had a cumulative total return of 339%.

How Long Does a Bear Market Last?

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Yes, we work hard every day to teach day trading, swing trading, options futures, scalping, and all that fun trading stuff. But we also like to teach you what’s beneath the Foundation of the stock market. If the market is overbought, people will be taking their profits. However, it’s a correction and not the beginning of a bear market. When unemployment is low and the GDP is strong companies see a rise in profits.

What is a bull market?

While not everyone is ready to say we’re in a bull market now, financial advisers broadly agree about how to invest during one. As wishy-washy as that conclusion might seem, it’s crucial to understanding the ambiguity that can come with trying to read investor sentiment during a time of shifting economic expectations. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, but it can be helpful to look at the history of the market’s expansions and contractions to understand how these market phases have taken place. Using a robo-advisor is an easy and affordable way to be hands-off with your investing approach.

  • We know that you’ll walk away from a stronger, more confident, and street-wise trader.
  • It’s easy to interpret the two terms as they are essentially opposites of one another.
  • The investors’ belief about stock prices influences the prices themselves in a self-fulfilling prophecy – where investors create market circumstances.
  • They’re generally more volatile than the large-cap stocks that comprise the S&P 500.
  • Investors use the terms “bearish” or “bullish” as a quick way to describe their market sentiment regarding specific securities or financial markets.

As of June 13, 2022, the Dow was at 30,516.74, not yet 20% below its January high. As I often say to clients, I am not concerned about trying to dodge the next 20% temporary decline. For reference, the S&P 500 currently has a higher-than-average PE ratio and a lower-than-average dividend yield. People come here to learn, hang out, practice, trade stocks, and more. Our trade rooms are a great place to get live group mentoring and training. Inverse ETFs are designed to change values in the opposite direction of the index they track.

Is It Better to Buy Bullish or Bearish?

A bear market occurs when broad market prices fall at least 20% from the most recent high over a few months. This causes increased selling, which in turn, makes prices drop even lower. The beginning of a bear market is defined https://www.bigshotrading.info/ as at least a 20% drop over a two month period. Amid the stress of a bear market, it’s important to remember that, while there is no guarantee, the stock market has delivered a positive return over the long term.