Stock FAQs

what does bull mean in stock

by Angela Muller III Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A bull market occurs when securities are on the rise, while a bear market occurs when securities fall for a sustained period of time.

Full Answer

What does the word bull refer to in stock market?

When an investor thinks that the stock market will go up, then it is called the “bullish” market, and if the investor thinks that the stock or the overall market will go down, then it is called the “bearish” market. The term “bull” or “bullish” comes from the word bull, resembling its action of striking upwards with its horns.

What is meant by Bull in Stock Exchange?

The bull symbol indicates rising stock market trend which is a period of a rising prices. Moreover, it is used to define overall actions and attitudes, or sentiment, either of an individual or the market. The basis of this understanding is when the of bull charges, it attack in the upward direction. The counterpart of bull is bear market.

What is the difference between a bull and bear market?

While bull markets are fueled by optimism, bear markets — which occur when stock prices fall 20% or more for a sustained period of time — are just the opposite. Bulls are generally powered by economic strength, whereas bear markets often occur in periods of economic slowdown and higher unemployment.

What does bear vs bull market mean?

Key Takeaways:

  • Bull and bear markets have certain characteristics that investors should take into account.
  • Learning market trends requires evaluating performance over a period of time.
  • Market changes can be distressing but can serve as unique opportunities.

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Is bull good for stocks?

Bottom line Understanding that a bull market signals rising stock prices and a strong economy, while a bear market signals falling stock prices and possibly a weak economy is crucial to any type of investor.

Does bullish mean buy or sell?

Being bullish involves buying an underlying market – known as going long – in order to profit by selling the market in the future, once the price has risen.

Is bull high or low?

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.

Should I buy a very bullish stock?

If analysts are bullish on a stock, though, that's a sign that you should consider holding onto it for the time being, or perhaps buy even more. If you aren't invested in a company that analysts you trust are bullish on, now might be the time to get in on it, right before the value rises.

How long do bull markets last?

As much as investors would like the answer to this question to be "forever," bull markets tend to run for just under four years. The average bull market duration, since 1932, is 3.8 years, according to market research firm InvesTech Research.

Is it better to buy in a bull or bear market?

Although some investors can be "bearish," the majority of investors are typically "bullish." The stock market, as a whole, has tended to post positive returns over long time horizons. A bear market can be more dangerous to invest in, as many equities lose value and prices become volatile.

Should you buy stocks in a bear market?

And if you're investing for a long-term goal — such as retirement — the bear markets you'll endure will be overshadowed by bull markets. Money you need for short-term goals, generally those you hope to achieve in less than five years, should not be invested in the stock market.

When should you buy bullish or bearish stock?

Bottom Line. A bullish investor, also known as a bull, believes that the price of one or more securities will rise. A bearish investor is one who believes prices will go down and eradicate a significant amount of wealth.

Do you buy when its bullish or bearish?

Bearish traders are looking to take short positions where they will profit if the market or stock goes down from its current price. Some traders are strictly bullish where they will only buy stocks that they think will go up.

Does bearish mean buy or sell?

What Does It Mean to Be Bearish? A bearish investor, also known as a bear, is one who believes prices will go down. As with a bullish investor, investors can be bearish about either the market as a whole or individual stocks or specific sectors.

What does it mean if a stock is 100% bullish?

To say a trader is "bullish on gold," for example, means that the trader believes the price of gold will rise.

Is bullish Up or down?

Bullishness is a sentiment or mindset adopted by a trader, thinking securities will move up in price. The opposite of this is bearishness, which is the sentiment that securities and markets are likely to move down in price.

What is a bull in the stock market?

Bull (stock market speculator) A bull is a stock market speculator who buys a holding in a stock in the expectation that in the very short-term it will rise in value whereupon they will sell the stock to make a quick profit on the transaction. Strictly speaking the term applies to speculators who borrow money to fund such a purchase, ...

What is a bull investor?

A bull must therefore be contrasted with an investor, who purchases a stock in expectation of a medium-term (say 5 years) or long-term increase in value due to the underlying performance of the company and its assets.

What happens when a bull trades on margin?

If the value of the stock falls contrary to their expectation, a bull suffers a loss, frequently very large if they are trading on margin. A bull has a great incentive to "talk-up" the value of their stock or to manipulate the market in their stock, for example by spreading false rumour, to procure a buyer or to cause a temporary price increase ...

What is the meaning of bull and bear?

In early usage the terms bull and bear were akin to naming a variety of fraudster, as is made clear by Mortimer, writing about 40 years after the scandal of the South Sea Bubble:

Where did the term "bull and bear" come from?

An early mention of the terms bull and bear appears in the 1769 edition of Thomas Mortimer 's book Every Man his own Broker, published in London, as follows, relating to speculators operating in Jonathan's Coffee-House in Exchange Alley (the original London proto-Stock Exchange):

Which speculator takes a directly opposite view to the bull?

The speculator who takes a directly opposite view to the bull is the bear, who speculates on a stock decreasing in value, having sold short. A bull market is a period during which stock market prices rise over a sustained period, therefore to the advantage of bulls.

Where are bull statues?

Several bronze statues of bulls representing positive investor sentiment exist near the locations of several stock markets or brokerage houses, for example: Charging Bull, a bronze statue by Arturo Di Modica at Bowling Green, Manhattan, New York City .

What does bull market mean?

Instead, it refers more to confident sentiment among investors. In practice, it means the market has more buyers than sellers. When demand exceeds supply, prices rise. Bull markets are most common when the economy is growing, unemployment is low and inflation is somewhat tame.

What does the bull and bear mean in the stock market?

You often hear a commentator say that the bears are in charge or that the bulls have taken over. Analysts like to say they are "bullish" or "bearish" on the market or on a particular stock.

How do investors make money in a bear market?

Some investors actually make money, particularly late in a bear market, buying stocks with depressed values in anticipation of them rising again. The process known as stock shorting involves selling stocks at a current price with the aim of buying them back once they reach a lower price.

How long does a bear market last?

Historically, bear markets have been shorter in duration than bull markets, with an average length of 18 months. If stocks go down for just a few days or weeks, the movement is usually called a "pullback" or a "correction.".

Did miners pit bulls and bears?

Miners used to actually pit bears and bulls together in a fighting ring. In the United States, this was common during the Gold Rush era in California. This bloody sport eventually was outlawed, but the symbolic strength of the two animals translated into modern Wall Street usage.

Can a short seller buy back a stock?

However, this is extremely risky given the fact that a short seller must ultimately buy the stock back, perhaps at a higher price. This could be catastrophic in the event that stocks defy bear market standards and raise exponentially in value, forcing the short seller to pay a tremendous sum to buy back the shares that he has sold short.

What does the bull symbol mean in stock market?

The bull symbol in the stock market indicates the rise of the stock market. A Bull trader, is one who thinks that the price will go up and buys the share and wait to sell or buys Call option. 1.1K views. Promoted by Upwork.

What does the bull symbol mean?

The bull symbol indicates rising stock market trend which is a period of a rising prices. Moreover, it is used to define overall actions and attitudes, or sentiment, either of an individual or the market. The basis of this understanding is when the of bull charges, it attack in the upward direction. The counterpart of bull is bear market.

What does the bull represent in the Aspen tree?

Aspen trees in western forests can be seen as recording these downward thrusts of the bear claws. In short, bears pull objects downward and bulls use their horns and neck strength to thrust objects up into the air. I see one prior answer says the bull represents strength. That is inaccurate.

What is the style of attack by the bull and the bear?

Basic understanding lies in the style of attack by the bull and the bear. Bull is associated with the rise in stock market, the reason being, that when a bull attacks, it places its head down and points it horns to the target.

Why do we call a bull a bear?

here are to of the popular ones: The terms "bear" and "bull" are thought to derive from the way in which each animal attacks its opponents. That is, a bull will thrust its horns up into the air, while a bear will swipe down.

What is the difference between a bull and a bear?

It’s not only the Bull but also a Bear symbol to relate to the stock market. The Bull sign is used to relate with the rising market and Bear is used for falling market. The science behind this is that a bull attacks with his horns from down towards upside (hence rising) and the bear does the opposite, i.e. he attacks with his paws from up towards down (hence falling)

What is the counterpart of bull?

The basis of this understanding is when the of bull charges, it attack in the upward direction. The counterpart of bull is bear market.

What is a bull 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 ...

What is the meaning of bull and bear?

In the investing world, the terms " bull " and " bear " are frequently used to refer to market conditions. These terms describe how stock markets are doing in general—that is, whether they are appreciating or depreciating in value. And as an investor, the direction of the market is a major force that has a huge impact on your portfolio.

Why do share prices rise in bear market?

As a result, share prices will rise as investors compete to obtain available equity . In a bear market, the opposite is true: more people are looking to sell than buy. The demand is significantly lower than supply and, as a result, share prices drop. 2 .

How to take advantage of a bull market?

In a bull market, the ideal thing for an investor to do is to take advantage of rising prices by buying stocks early in the trend (if possible) and then selling them when they have reached their peak.

What happens in a bear market?

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. 1 .

Why is the risk of losses greater in a bear market?

In a bear market, however, the chance of losses is greater because prices are continually losing value and the end is often not in sight. Even if you do decide to invest with the hope of an upturn, you are likely to take a loss before any turnaround occurs. Thus, most of the profitability can be found in short selling or safer investments, such as fixed-income securities.

How does investor psychology affect the stock market?

Because the market's behavior is impacted and determined by how individuals perceive and react to its behavior, investor psychology and sentiment affect whether the market will rise or fall. Stock market performance and investor psychology are mutually dependent.

What is a bull vs bear market?

Bull Vs. Bear Market. A bull market is a sustained rising stock market, sometimes defined as a 20% rally from a recent low. The term can also be used regarding bonds, currencies and other securities. Bulls are optimistic the stock market will continue to rise future and are likely to buy stocks.

What is the longest bull market in history?

The bull market that started after the 2007 financial crisis is the longest in American history. The Dow Jones industrial average has quadruped during the historic run and the S&P 500 is up over 300%. The financial crisis was the most recent bear market, but the Nasdaq and S&P 500 closed in bear market range in December 2018.

How long does a bear market last?

Although the length varies, bear markets generally last eight to nine months, according to CAN SLIM. Corrections usually last just few weeks or months. It's tempting to look for good deals in penny stocks or beaten-up former leaders during a bear market, but investors shouldn't bargain hunt.

Where did the term "bear market" come from?

But here some theories: Merriam-Webster says the term bear market came first, from a proverb about bearskin sellers in the 18th century : "Don't sell the bear's skin before you've killed him.".

Do new bull markets produce new stock market winners?

New bull markets produce new stock market winners and the "industry that leads in one bull market normally won't come back to lead in the next," O'Neil wrote.

How Long Does a Bull Market Last?

Bull markets can last for a few months to several years, but they tend to be longer than bear markets. They also tend to be more frequent: Bull markets have occurred for 78% of the past 91 years.

What does it mean when the stock market is bullish?

A bull market is when a major stock market index rises at least 20% from a recent low. With a bull market, stock prices steadily increase, and investors are optimistic and encouraged about the stock market’s future performance. Bull markets indicate that the economy is strong and unemployment rates are generally low, ...

What Is a Bear Market?

A bear market is when stock prices on major market indexes, like the S&P 500 or Dow Jones industrial average, fall by at least 20% from a recent high. This is in contrast to a correction, which is a fall of at least 10% and tends to be much shorter lived. Corrections generally don’t lead to full bear markets. But when they do, the bear market results in an average decline of 32.5% from the market’s most recent high.

What Should You Do in a Bull vs Bear Market?

While bull markets generally don’t cause people too much stress, bear markets often inspire anxiety and uncertainty. How you should handle a bear market, though, is dependent on your investment timeline.

What are the signs of a bear in the stock market?

Move over, Scorpios and Capricorns. When it comes to the stock market, there are two better signs to consider: the bull and the bear. According to market “astrology,” a bear indicates the market is in decline while a bull signals the market is growing. For better or worse, both bull markets and bear markets are a part of ...

Why is the stock market in a bear market?

A bear market is often caused by a slowing economy and rising unemployment rates. During this period, investors generally feel pessimistic about the stock market’s outlook, and the changes in the stock market may be accompanied by a recession. But a bear market doesn’t always indicate that a recession is coming.

How long does it take for the stock market to recover from a bear market?

Since World War II, it has taken about two years on average for the stock market to recover, or reach its previous high. But that isn’t always the case. The most recent bear market, which started in March 2020, was exceptionally short, ending in August when stocks closed at record highs. The previous bear market, the Great Recession, on the other hand, didn’t see a recovery for about four years.

What is a bullish stock?

A bullish stock is one that experts and investors think is about to outperform and potentially increase in value. It makes a good investment if you get in before that price increase takes hold. A bearish stock is one that the experts think is going to underperform and go down in value. These are stocks you may want to sell off before the price goes down or potentially short sell, if you feel confident enough.

What does it mean when an analyst is bullish on a stock?

If analysts are bullish on a stock, though, that’s a sign that you should consider holding onto it for the time being, or perhaps buy even more. If you aren’t invested in a company that analysts you trust are bullish on, now might be the time to get in on it, right before the value rises.

What does it mean to be bullish on pharmaceuticals?

If you’re bullish on pharmaceuticals, that means you think the pharmaceutical industry as a whole is entering a period of growth and stocks in that industry will be going up soon.

What does it mean to be bullish?

A bullish stock is one that investors believe is going to go up in value or outperform its benchmark. For instance, let’s say you’re watching the financial news and a pundit says that she is “bullish on Company XYZ.” This means that that particular analyst believes that shares of Company XYZ are about to grow, potentially resulting in big gains in value for shareholders.

What does it mean when a stock is bearish?

If investors and analysts are bearish on a stock, it means experts expect it to lose value. If you see this analysis coming from sources you trust, there are a few things you can do. For owners of the stock, it might be time to sell. Remember, “buy low, sell high” is the most basic goal of investing, so if a stock is about to lose a huge amount of value, now may be the time to dump it. This is especially true if it’s currently sitting at a higher value than you bought it for.

What does it mean to be in a bear market?

If you hear someone say that we are in a “bear market,” that means the expectation is that stock values will be going down across the board. A “bull market” instead means the expectation is that stock values will be going up.

What to do if you don't own a stock?

If you don’t own the stock, shorting it may be a strong option. Shortingis a somewhat complex financial maneuver investors use when they believe a stock is going to lose value. If you aren’t comfortable pulling off a short sale by yourself, a financial advisoror broker can help you.

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Overview

A bull is a stock market speculator who buys a holding in a stock in the expectation that in the very short-term it will rise in value whereupon they will sell the stock to make a quick profit on the transaction. Strictly speaking the term applies to speculators who borrow money to fund such a purchase, and are thus under great pressure to complete the transaction before the loan is repayable …

History of the term

An early mention of the terms bull and bear appears in the 1769 edition of Thomas Mortimer's book Every Man his own Broker, published in London, as follows, relating to speculators operating in Jonathan's Coffee-House in Exchange Alley (the original London proto-Stock Exchange):
"A Bull is the name by which the gentlemen of 'Change Alley choose to call all persons who contract to buy any quantity of government securities, without an intention or ability to pay for it, …

Quasi-fraudster

In early usage the terms bull and bear were akin to naming a variety of fraudster, as is made clear by Mortimer, writing about 40 years after the scandal of the South Sea Bubble:
"Notwithstanding all the wise precautions hitherto taken, only the more palpable and glaring frauds have been entirely suppressed. The Bubbles are indeed burst, and the Race Horses of Exchange-Alley long since dead, but Bulls and Bears still subsist in their original vigour and full s…

Early example

Mortimer gives an example of a bull as follows:
"Thus a man who in March buys in the Alley £40,000 four per cent annuities 1760, for the rescounters in May, and at the same time is not worth ten pounds in the world, or, which is the same thing, has his money employed in trade, and cannot really take the annuities so contracted for, is a Bull, till such time as he can discharge himself of his heavy burden by selling it to anothe…

Sculptures of stock-market bulls

Several bronze statues of bulls representing positive investor sentiment exist near the locations of several stock markets or brokerage houses, for example:
• Charging Bull, a bronze statue by Arturo Di Modica at Bowling Green, Manhattan, New York City
• "Bulle und Bär sculptures by Norbert Marten in Viersen, Germany

Sources

• Mortimer, Thomas, Every Man his own Broker, or, A Guide to Exchange-Alley, 7th Edition, London, 1769

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