Understanding the Bulls and the Bears

If you've ever flipped on the television to CNN Financial or paged through the finance section of your local newspaper, you may have seen or heard references made to "the bulls and the bears." If you didn't know what was meant by those terms, you're about to find out. I will tell you up front that they were not talking about basketball and football franchises based in Chicago.

"The bulls and the bears" refers to the performance of the stock market. In the most general terms, "ups" are bulls and "downs" are bears. If the stocks and funds in which you have invested have a "bull" day, you're probably one happy camper. You made money. If, on the other hand, it's been a "bear" day, you're probably not going to be feeling too chipper. Remember that no one has much cared for the Bears (save people in Chicago, of course) since 1986 and the days of Walter Payton, William "Refrigerator" Perry, and The Super Bowl Shuffle and you're on the right track.

No one knows for sure where these terms originated, but they are definitely related to the behavior we associate with these animals. Bulls and bears display uniquely opposite attitudes and behaviors. Bulls will charge ahead bravely or angrily at anything that catches their interest while bears are, by nature, more timid and cautious creatures (although I wouldn't recommend approaching one in the wild, regardless) who will move slowly and investigate a situation before taking action. The way that these relate to a "bull or bear" market is evident. When the market is having a strong upswing and is charging ahead by leaps and bounds, it is having a bull run (no, this has nothing to do with the Civil War). When it's on a steady decline, obviously, it's experiencing a bear run (not the Native American who loved Little White Dove, according to the song. That was Running Bear which, I'm told, is far too chilly in the winter ? especially in Chicago.)

In all seriousness, however, the bulls and the bears of the stock market have a profound effect on investors, often making or breaking a person's financial future in one day. The wise investor will pay close attention to the market's bull and bear activities and invest accordingly.

Investment Tips by Mika Hamilton ? Read more free investment tips, tutorials & reviews at http://www.Global-Investment-Institute.com

---

Tips to Finding Other People?s Simple Trading Plans

Did you know you can make money (and a lot... Read More

Stock Market System ... ONLINE STOCK TRADING ... Beyond Day Trading Basics & Tips

Day trading is all about making buy and sell decisions.... Read More

Are You A Stockaholic?

Today's society gives special recognition to alcoholics, sexaholics, binge-aholics, shopaholics,... Read More

The Surgeon General

The Surgeon General of the United States says that smoking... Read More

Series 7 Exam

What is the Series 7 Exam? If you... Read More

More Window Dressing

Two weeks ago I wrote about what the Securities and... Read More

Lifestyle Funds Provide Greater Security?

With the stock market stubbornly refusing to settle down and... Read More

The POWER of a Proven Stock Investment Plan

When you invest in the stock market for ever-increasing cash... Read More

Humpty Dumpty the Stock Market Falls Down

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all the King's... Read More

Play another Day

Money management starts with protecting your capital, realizing profits and... Read More

Kick The Tires

Before you buy another car you walk around the lot,... Read More

Option Trading Basics

Options trading can increase the profits you make when trading... Read More

Pathways

During our travel down life's path we come to many... Read More

It Cant Be Done

Wouldn't it be nice if you were only in the... Read More

Diversification

Wall Street's watchword has always been diversification, but what does... Read More

Stock Chart Reading

As an investor you will want to check out any... Read More

Investing in Dividend Paying Stocks

I was recently interviewed for a press release through a... Read More

Keep Your Profits

It looks like we have now entered a new bull... Read More

Investing in the Stock Market - When To!

Is really not as important as to how you invest... Read More

My Stock - Right or Wrong

We all know the expression, "My country, right or wrong",... Read More

How to Pick Winning Stocks

There is nothing more exciting than finding an undervalued stock... Read More

The Top 10 Reasons to Invest in Mutual Funds

Everyone who follows the financial news has heard of mutual... Read More

Successful Trading ? Taking Profits - Part 1

So you're started trading, you bought some positions with your... Read More

How to Evaluate Load vs. No Load Mutual Funds

If you have been dealing with mutual funds for any... Read More

No Load Mutual Funds or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)?

If you are fed up with early redemption charges and... Read More

Protectionism

First let's see what protectionism is. According to Mr. Webster... Read More

Some Good News for A Change

Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More

Trading Stocks ?Never Forget About A Past Trade

We all know that emotions control every decision that an... Read More

The Shadow

The Shadow knows. There used to be a radio program... Read More

One Way Street

Ever turn down a street, get half way and suddenly... Read More

Making a Stock Watch List

I am taking the time to help others learn the... Read More

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a... Read More

Invest, Be Wrong, and Make Money in the Stock Market

I have been trading for several decades and was an... Read More