A bull market is a sustained stretch of rising prices and rising confidence. The name comes from the way a bull attacks — thrusting its horns upward.
A bull market is a prolonged period in which prices rise and optimism spreads. A common rule of thumb is a 20% rise from a recent low, sustained over weeks or months, rather than a one-day pop. The opposite is a bear market, a 20%-or-more decline.
Bull markets usually grow on a mix of strong company earnings, a healthy economy, low or falling interest rates, and plain investor confidence. As prices rise, more people want in, which pushes prices higher still — a feedback loop. Per the SEC, no one can reliably predict exactly when one begins or ends.
Historically, bull markets in U.S. stocks have tended to last far longer than bear markets — often several years — though every cycle is different. The phrase “the trend is your friend” captures why many investors stay invested while the bull runs rather than trying to time an exit.
The danger of a bull market is complacency. Rising prices can make risky bets look smart, and FOMO (fear of missing out) can push valuations far above what companies actually earn. Bull markets always end eventually — usually when that gap gets too wide.
Trade a bull run safely: watch an uptrend build and ride it with $10,000 of play money in the stock market simulator — no real risk.
Not advice: this is educational content with simulated examples. For real investing fundamentals see investor.gov.
Now see the other side in what is a bear market, or learn how a diversified portfolio survives both in how to diversify a portfolio.
A bull market is a sustained period of rising stock prices and investor optimism, commonly defined as a gain of 20% or more from a recent low that holds over time.
The term comes from the way a bull attacks by thrusting its horns upward — mirroring prices that push higher. A bear, which swipes downward, gives its name to falling markets.
It varies, but historically U.S. bull markets have often lasted several years — typically much longer than bear markets, though no two cycles are identical.
Many investors stay invested during bull markets, but rising prices can also inflate risk and valuations. Diversifying and not chasing hype helps manage that risk.