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Investing & the Stock Market vocabulary · Market News & Sentiment

Bear market

Meaning in investing & the stock market, with examples

/ˈber ˌmɑːrkɪt/nounCore term

In investing & the stock market, bear market means: A long period in which prices in a market fall and investors are generally pessimistic. It is often defined as a fall of 20 percent or more from a recent high.

In Turkish: ayı piyasası, düşüş piyasası

How it is used

Used in news and analysis, especially when an index crosses the 20 percent threshold: 'the index entered bear market territory'. Commentators discuss when the bear market will end and whether a rise is only a bear market rally.

Example sentences

  1. The index officially entered a bear market after falling 21 percent from its peak.

  2. Many investors who sold during the bear market missed the recovery.

Common collocations

  • enter a bear market
  • bear market territory
  • bear market rally
  • prolonged bear market
  • bull marketA long period in which prices in a market rise and investors are generally confident. A common rule of thumb is a 20 percent rise from a recent low.
  • bearishExpecting prices to fall, or showing signs that prices will fall. It can describe an investor, a forecast, a chart pattern or the mood of the market.
  • correctionA fall in prices of usually at least 10 percent from a recent high, seen as a pause or adjustment after a strong rise rather than the start of a long decline.
  • sell-offA sudden period in which many investors sell at the same time, causing prices of a stock, sector or whole market to fall quickly.
  • volatilityHow much and how quickly the price of an investment or a market moves up and down. High volatility means large, frequent price swings.

More terms: Market News & Sentiment

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not financial advice.