bull Wiktionary, the free dictionary

It’s more than just a trend — it’s a reflection of market optimism, strong economic indicators, and increasing demand across financial sectors. Whether you’re new to investing or a seasoned trader, understanding a bull market definition, how it works, and what defines one can help you make smarter decisions. Adult bulls may weigh between 500 and 1,000 kg (1,100 and 2,200 lb). Most are capable of aggressive behavior and require careful handling to ensure the safety of humans and other animals.

Historical Examples of Bull Markets

  • In the off season, multiple bulls may be kept together in a “bachelor herd”.
  • If you’re new to trading, think of a bull market as a time when “the bulls are in control”— optimism is high, investors are confident, and market activity surges upward.
  • A bull market is marked by rising prices and optimism, while a bear market is characterized by falling prices and pessimism.
  • Understanding what a bull market is helps crypto traders navigate both excitement and volatility with more awareness and strategy.
  • In larger pastures, particularly where a bull is kept with other cattle, the animals may simply be fed from a pickup truck or tractor, the vehicle itself providing some protection for the humans involved.
  • While there’s no universally agreed-upon percentage that defines a bull market, a common benchmark is a rise of 20% or more in market prices from recent lows, typically sustained over a period of months or even years.

The word “bull” also denotes the males of other bovines, including bison and water buffalo, as well as many other species of large animals, including elephants, rhinos, seals and walruses, hippos, camels, giraffes, elk, moose, whales, dolphins, and antelopes. Bull markets can last for months or even years, depending on economic conditions and investor behavior. Bull markets often occur alongside or in anticipation of strong economic performance. GDP growth, low interest rates, and job creation are all contributing factors. Let’s start by understanding the bull market definition in the most straightforward way. An aggressive bull may be kept confined in a bull pen, a robustly constructed shelter and pen, often with an arrangement to allow the bull to be fed without entering the pen.

What causes a bull market?

Alternatively, the bull may be hobbled, or chained by his ring or by a collar to a solid object such as a ring fixed into the ground. In many areas, placing rings in bulls’ noses to help control them is traditional. The ring is usually made of copper, and is inserted through a small hole cut in the septum of the nose. It is used by attaching a lead rope either directly to it or running through it from a head collar, or for more difficult bulls, a bull pole (or bull staff) may be used. This is a rigid pole about 1 m (3 ft) long with a clip at one end; this attaches to the ring and allows the bull both to be led and to be held away from his handler.

  • Bulls appears as charges and crests on the arms of several British families.
  • A 24-year-old bull rider has died after sustaining injuries while competing in a rodeo event in Texas, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association said.
  • From Middle English bulle, from Old French bulle, from Latin bulla, from Gaulish.
  • More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e. cows proper), bulls have long been an important symbol in many religions, including for sacrifices.
  • From a clipped form of French bulldozer, from American English bulldozer.

Derived terms

It’s often driven by strong economic performance, investor confidence, and positive market sentiment. A bull market refers to a financial market condition in which prices are rising or are expected to rise. Most commonly, the term is used in reference to the stock market, but it can apply to any financial market — including crypto, bonds, real estate, or commodities. Aside from their reproductive duties, bulls are also used in certain sports, including bullfighting and bull-riding. They are also incorporated into festivals and folk events such as the Running of the Bulls and were seen in ancient sports such as bull-leaping. Colloquially, people unfamiliar with cattle may also refer to steers and heifers as “cows”, and bovines of aggressive or long-horned breeds as “bulls” regardless of sex.

Beef production

While there’s no universally agreed-upon percentage that defines a bull market, a common benchmark is a rise of 20% or more in market prices from recent lows, typically sustained over a period of months or even years. If you’re new to trading, think of a bull market as a time when “the bulls are in control”— optimism is high, investors are confident, and market activity surges upward. Bull markets are typically caused by strong economic growth, low unemployment, rising corporate profits, and optimistic investor sentiment. Whether you’re trading stocks, crypto, or any other asset class, knowing how to define a bull market and recognizing what defines a bull market can give you the edge you need to make informed decisions. To sum it up, if you’ve ever wondered what bull market means, think of it as a time when markets are climbing, optimism is rising, and opportunities are everywhere. A bull market is marked by rising prices and optimism, while a bear market is characterized by falling prices and pessimism.

Price gains can be dramatic — sometimes 10x or 100x — attracting retail and institutional investors alike. Bulls appears as charges and crests on the arms of several British families. Winged bulls appear as supporters in the arms of the Worshipful Company of Butchers.38 In modern times, the bull is used as a mascot by both amateur and professional sports teams. Understanding what a bull market is helps crypto traders navigate both excitement and volatility with more awareness and strategy. When investors believe prices will continue to rise, more people invest, pushing prices even higher.

In larger pastures, particularly where a bull is kept with other cattle, the animals may simply be fed from a pickup truck or tractor, the vehicle itself providing some protection for the humans involved. Generally, bulls kept with cows tend to be less aggressive than those kept alone. In herd situations, cows with young calves are often more dangerous to humans. In the off season, multiple bulls may be kept together in a “bachelor herd”. So, while the trend is your friend, it’s wise to do your research, manage risk, and stay alert. Bull markets in crypto are especially explosive due to the high volatility of digital assets.

Often reanalyzed by surface analysis to be an expurgated clipping of bullshit. These examples highlight how a bull in the market behaves — charging forward, setting new highs, and pulling in waves of investor interest. A bull in the market tends to charge ahead, creating a cycle of enthusiasm and wealth creation. From Middle English bulle, from Old French bulle, from Latin bulla, from Gaulish.

Bull Market vs. Bear Market

A bull is an intact (i.e., not castrated) adult male of the species Bos taurus (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e. cows proper), bulls have long been an important symbol in many religions, including for sacrifices. These animals play a significant role in beef ranching, dairy farming, and a variety of sporting and cultural activities, including bullfighting and bull riding. A bull market is a period when asset prices are rising or expected to rise.

From a clipped form of French bulldozer, from American English bulldozer. A 24-year-old bull rider definition bull has died after sustaining injuries while competing in a rodeo event in Texas, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association said.

Even though it feels like the bull in the market will never slow down, long-term success comes from staying grounded, not just riding the hype. Now that we’ve answered what a bull market is, you may be wondering how it affects you. During a bull run, dips are often short-lived, and market sentiment tends to bounce back quickly. From Middle English bowle, boule, from Old French boule (“ball”), from Latin bulla (“round swelling”), of Gaulish origin.

What is the difference between a bull and a bear market?

Those of dairy breeds may be more prone to aggression, while beef breeds are somewhat less aggressive, though beef breeds such as the Spanish Fighting Bull and related animals are also noted for aggressive tendencies, which are further encouraged by selective breeding. Many investors adopt a buy-and-hold strategy during bull markets. It’s important to research assets, diversify your portfolio, and avoid emotional decision-making.

If an aggressive bull is allowed to graze outside, additional precautions may be needed to help avoid him harming people. One method is a bull mask, which either covers the bull’s eyes completely, or restricts his vision to the ground immediately in front of him, so he cannot see his potential victim. Another method is to attach a length of chain to the bull’s nose-ring, so that if he ducks his head to charge, he steps on the chain and is brought up short.

In this blog, we’ll break it down in simple terms and explain why it matters to every investor. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.

Shopping Cart