Why is a rising market called a “bull market?”
1. Images of bulls were considered symbols of prosperity in the American colonies
2. Bulls attack by thrusting their horns upward
3. Bulls were among the most heavily traded commodities in early markets
4. Bull Road ran north of Wall Street toward New York’s financial district
Answer:
2. Bulls attack by thrusting their horns upward
The term “bull market” comes from the upward motion of a bull’s attack using its horns. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the image became associated with rising stock prices, investor confidence, and economic optimism. Its opposite, a “bear market,” reflects the downward swiping motion of a bear’s paws.
