By Ziv Shay | Updated June 2026

Fact-checked for accuracy Reviewed by Ziv Shay Updated June 2026

Sources: IRS, SEC, Federal Reserve, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics & U.S. Census Bureau. See our editorial standards.

Bull Market

A sustained period of rising stock prices, typically defined as a gain of 20% or more from recent lows.

UPDATED June 2026 — Definitions reviewed for accuracy

Definition: A sustained period of rising stock prices, typically defined as a gain of 20% or more from recent lows.

A bull market reflects investor optimism, strong economic growth, and rising asset prices. Bull markets can last for years — the 2009-2020 U.S. bull run lasted nearly 11 years. Because timing the market is notoriously difficult, long-term investors typically stay invested through both bull and bear markets rather than trying to predict turns.

Example

After the March 2020 crash, the S&P 500 rose more than 20% within months, kicking off a new bull market that pushed indexes to record highs over the following two years.

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About the AuthorZiv Shay is a software engineer and fintech enthusiast based in Israel, building free financial tools since 2024. Learn more

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