Bull Market
A bull market is a sustained period of rising stock prices, commonly defined as a gain of 20% or more from a recent low, accompanied by broad investor optimism.
The name comes from the way a bull attacks, thrusting its horns upward. Bull markets typically coincide with economic growth, rising corporate earnings, low or falling unemployment and supportive financial conditions.
There is no official start date. Analysts usually date a bull market from the bottom of the preceding bear market once prices have climbed 20% from that low. Bull markets have historically lasted much longer than bear markets, often several years, though they include pullbacks and corrections along the way.
Being bullish means expecting prices to rise. The term applies not only to the overall stock market but also to individual stocks, sectors, bonds, commodities or cryptocurrencies.
Example: the US bull market that began in March 2009 ran until early 2020, making it one of the longest on record. Late in a bull market, valuations often rise and speculation can increase, which some investors watch as signs of elevated risk.