How long did the 1990s bull market last?

The record-setting bull market of the roaring 1990s lasted more than a decade and remains one of the most impressive periods of prolonged stock market gains in history. The booming U.S. economy of the 1990s was fueled by the end of the Cold War and the dawn of the Internet Age.

How often do bull markets start?

There have been 12 bull markets since the S&P 500 launched back in 1957, meaning a new one has started roughly once every 5.5 years. Despite the stock market’s ups and downs, the dozen bull markets over the last six decades have helped the S&P 500 generate a total return of more than 65,000% since 1957.

What happened during a secular bull market?

During the secular bull market, the S&P 500 rallied 391% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) – a term that denotes a bull market lasting many years – averaged 16.8% annual returns. It was followed by a protracted bear market. From 2000 to 2009, the market struggled and delivered average annual returns of -6.2%.

Why do we call markets a bull or a bear?

The commonly held belief about the origin of these terms suggests that the use of "bull" and "bear" to describe markets comes from the way the animals attack their opponents. A bull thrusts its horns up into the air, while a bear swipes its paws downward. These actions are metaphors for the movement of a market.