What is a 'Bear Market'?

A bear market is a market in which securities prices fall and widespread pessimism causes the negative sentiment to be self-sustaining. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

| Term of the Day Bear Market A bear market is a condition in which securities prices fall and widespread pessimism causes the stock market's downward spiral to be self-sustaining. Investors anticipate losses as pessimism and selling increases. Although figures vary, a downturn of 20 percent or more from a peak in multiple broad market indexes, such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500), over a two-month period is considered an entry into a bear market. Breaking it Down: The term "bear market" is the opposite of a "bull market," or a market in which prices for securities are rising or will expect to rise. It is named for the way in which a bear attacks its prey... Read More » Related to "Bear Market" Digging Deeper Into Bull And Bear Markets Discover why it's important to know the characteristics of bull and bear markets, the two types of market conditions. Read More » Where Did the Bull and Bear Market Get Their Names? The terms bull and bear are used to describe general actions and attitudes, or sentiment, either of an individual or the market, but how were they named? Read More » 4 Ways To Survive and Prosper in a Bear Market Learn how to survive, and even prosper, in a bear market, by considering and putting into action the following four strategies. Read More » Related Definitions Bull Market A bull market is a financial market of a group of securities in which prices are rising or are expected to rise. Read More » Bear Position Bear position is a term representing a short position applied to a financial security. Read More » Market Swoon Market swoon is a buzzword for dramatic, sudden decline in the overall value of the stock market. Read More » Fast Market A fast market is a condition officially declared by a stock exchange during unusually high levels of volatility, combined with unusually heavy trading. Read More » CONNECT WITH INVESTOPEDIA Email sent to: mondemand.forex@blogger.com To update your newsletter preferences or unsubscribe, click here. 114 West 41st St, floor 8 New York NY 10036 © 2019, Investopedia, LLC, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy