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Article: Bear and Bull Markets
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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BEAR AND BULL MARKETS
The terms
bear
and
bull
refer to two opposing attitudes about the future of the economy. The meanings of the terms are symbolized in their names. Bears tend to be overbearing and push prices down. They believe that stock prices, currencies, commodities, or other financial investments will fall. Viewing the future pessimistically, bears are cautious investors and may quickly sell their holdings to avoid the losses they are certain will come. Bulls, however, run fast with their heads (and horns) high; they want to grab stocks and push prices upward. Bulls believe stock and other investment prices will rise. This optimism leads them to confidently invest in the stock ...