A bull market is a period of sustained price increases in the stock market. The term comes from the way a bull attacks — thrusting its horns upward.
Definition
Formally, a bull market begins when prices rise 20% or more from a recent low. It ends when prices fall 20% from a recent high (entering a bear market).
Notable Asian Bull Markets
- Japan 2012-2018: Nikkei 225 rose from ~8,500 to ~24,000 under Abenomics
- India 2020-2024: SENSEX doubled from ~27,000 to ~60,000+ post-COVID
- China 2014-2015: SSE Composite surged 150% in 12 months before crashing
What Drives Bull Markets
- Low interest rates (cheap borrowing)
- Strong corporate earnings
- Government stimulus
- Investor optimism
- Foreign capital inflows
How to Identify
Look for: rising moving averages, increasing trading volume, broadening market breadth (most stocks rising, not just a few leaders).