What Does Bearish Mean in Finance: Definition & Strategies

In the context of the financial markets, "bearish" is a term used to describe a negative or pessimistic outlook on the direction of a particular asset, market, or the overall economy. When someone is bearish, they believe that prices or values are likely to decline, and they anticipate that market conditions will deteriorate.

Conversely, the opposite of a bearish sentiment is a "bullish" sentiment, where investors anticipate rising prices or a positive market outlook. Understanding whether the prevailing sentiment is bearish or bullish is important for making investment decisions and managing risk in the financial markets.

The use of the word bearish in this context is believed to originate from the way a bear attacks, with downward thrust. However, the first usage of this term isn’t well documented. 

Listed below are some of the characteristics of a bear that are metaphorically applied to a bearish investor or a bearish market: 

• Downward Movement: Like a bear that swipes its paws downward when it attacks or defends, a bearish market or investor expects and foresees declining asset prices.

• Defensive Stance: Bears use their physical attributes defensively, and similarly, bearish investors may adopt a defensive stance by selling assets, reducing risk exposure, or seeking protection against potential losses.

• Negative Outlook: Bears are often seen as powerful but potentially dangerous creatures. Similarly, bearish sentiment in the financial markets reflects a negative outlook on the future performance of assets or the broader market.

The main difference between bullish and bearish sentiments lies in their outlook on asset prices and market trends.  Bullish investors are optimistic, expecting prices to rise, while bearish investors are pessimistic, expecting prices to fall. These terms are fundamental to understanding investor sentiment and market dynamics in the world of finance.

Learn more about bullish sentiment, markets and strategies.

Additional details on the difference between bullish and bearish are highlighted below.

Market Outlook

• Bullish: A bullish outlook is optimistic and anticipates rising asset prices or a favorable market trend.

• Bearish: A bearish outlook is pessimistic and expects declining asset prices or an unfavorable market trend.

Price Outlook

• Bullish: Bullish investors expect prices to go up and may be inclined to buy or hold assets with the belief that they will appreciate.

• Bearish: Bearish investors expect prices to go down and may consider selling assets or adopting defensive positions to protect against potential losses. Bearish investors/traders may also elect to adopt an aggressive stance, and attempt to profit from a downward move in prices. 

Associated Imagery

• Bullish: The term "bullish" is metaphorically linked to the behavior of a bull, which thrusts its horns upward when it charges, symbolizing an upward market trend.

• Bearish: "Bearish" is associated with the behavior of a bear, which swipes its paws downward when it attacks or defends, symbolizing a downward market trend.

Investor Sentiment

• Bullish: Bullish sentiment indicates confidence in the market's future performance and a willingness to take on risk.

• Bearish: Bearish sentiment reflects caution and a belief that the market or asset is overvalued, prompting a defensive stance.

Potential Actions Taken

• Bullish: Bullish investors may buy assets, hold onto existing investments, or seek opportunities for capital appreciation during positive market conditions.

• Bearish: Bearish investors may sell assets, reduce exposure to risk, or take defensive measures, such as moving into more conservative investments or holding cash. Bearish investors/traders may also elect to adopt an aggressive stance, and attempt to profit from a downward move in prices. 

Market Conditions

• Bullish: A bullish market is characterized by rising asset prices, optimism, and a positive economic outlook.

• Bearish: A bearish market is marked by falling asset prices, pessimism, and concerns about economic conditions.

In the context of financial markets, a bear market is a term used to describe a prolonged period of declining asset prices, typically characterized by pessimism, investor caution, and negative sentiment. During a bear market, there is a prevailing belief that the overall direction of the market or a specific asset class (such as stocks) is downward, and investors expect that prices will continue to decrease.

Bear markets can be triggered by various factors, including economic recessions, geopolitical instability, financial crises, corporate earnings disappointments, or changes in investor sentiment. The specific catalysts can vary from one bear market to another.

Bear markets can vary in duration, with some lasting several months and others extending for years. Their duration is often influenced by their exact cause and prevailing economic conditions. 

The end of a bear market is often marked by a "bear market bottom," where asset prices reach their lowest point before stabilizing or beginning to recover. Identifying a bottom can be challenging, and may only be apparent in hindsight.

Some additional characteristics of bear markets are highlighted below.

• Falling Asset Prices: Bear markets are defined by consistent and sustained decreases in the prices of assets, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, or commodities.
• Negative Investor Sentiment: Investors in a bear market are generally pessimistic and may have concerns about economic conditions, corporate earnings, or other factors affecting market stability.
• Risk Aversion: Bearish sentiment often leads to risk aversion, with investors seeking safety and capital preservation rather than capital appreciation.
• Market Downturns: A bear market is typically marked by a significant decline in the value of a specific asset or a broad market index, often reaching a threshold of a 20% or more decline from recent highs.
• Defensive Strategies: In a bear market, investors and traders may employ defensive strategies, such as selling assets, reducing exposure to risk, or seeking protection against potential losses.
• Offensive Strategies: In a bear market, some investors and traders may elect to try and profit from a downward move in prices, by selling stocks short, buying puts, selling calls, or selling futures. 
• Contrarian Strategies: In a bear market, some investors and traders may try to play a rebound in the market, or try to identify a paradigm shift, when the bear market shifts to a neutral market, or a bull market. This may be done by buying stocks (dollar cost averaging), selling puts, buying calls, or buying futures. 

It’s important to keep in mind that bear markets are not permanent, and they can be followed by bull markets, or neutral markets. Investors and traders should therefore embrace a disciplined and diversified approach to help navigate shifting sentiment in the financial markets. 

Listed below are some additional considerations when investing in or trading bear markets.

1. Stay Calm and Avoid Panic

During a bear market, emotions can run high, but it's crucial to stay calm and avoid panic selling. Emotional reactions can lead to poor decision making. 

2. Reassess Your Investment Goals

Review your financial goals and objectives. In a bear market, your priorities may shift from growth to capital preservation or income generation.

3. Consider Diversifying

Bear markets can provide an opportunity to shift the diversification in your portfolio, potentially focusing on new investment themes that may emerge in a neutral or bull market. 

4. Rebalance Your Portfolio

Regularly rebalance your portfolio to maintain your target asset allocation. This may involve selling some assets that have held up well and reallocating to assets that have declined in value. 

5. Consider Defensive Investments

Defensive assets like bonds, dividend-paying stocks, and cash equivalents can provide stability during bear markets. They may help offset losses from more volatile investments.

6. Review Your Risk Tolerance

Reevaluate your risk tolerance and ensure it matches your comfort level in a declining market. Adjust your portfolio if needed to align with your risk tolerance.

7. Avoid Trying to Time the Bottom

Attempting to time the market bottom can be challenging. Instead, focus on your long-term investment strategy and try to identify investment trends that may be attractive when sentiment shifts. 

8. Maintain a Cash Cushion

Having some cash on hand can provide flexibility to take advantage of investment opportunities when sentiment shifts. 

9. Stay Informed

Stay informed about economic developments and market trends but be cautious about overreacting to short-term news or market noise.

10. Continue Investing and Saving

Even in a bear market, continue saving and investing for the future. Downturns can present opportunities to buy assets at lower prices.

11. Focus on Quality Investments

During bear markets, focus on quality investments with strong fundamentals, as they may be more resilient when sentiment shifts. 

12. Prepare for Market Recovery

Bear markets are typically followed by market recoveries. Stay patient and vigilant and prepare a plan for a potential market recovery. 

Investing and trading strategies in bear markets are designed to capitalize on declining asset prices, to defend against losses, and to potentially capitalize on a paradigm shift to a neutral or bull market. Listed below are some of the most common strategies employed during bear markets.

Short Selling

• Short selling involves borrowing shares of a stock and selling them with the expectation that the stock's price will decline. Traders aim to profit by buying the shares back at a lower price.

Hedging Strategies

• Hedging involves using various strategies, such as options and futures contracts, to protect a portfolio from potential losses. Investors may employ hedging when they expect the market to correct, or amidst a bear market. 

Trading Elevated Volatility

• In bear markets or volatile markets, investors and traders often use options and other derivatives to capitalize on increased market volatility. This may involve selling options, or taking advantage of options-related strategies that benefit when market volatility declines.

Tactical Asset Allocation

• Tactical asset allocation involves adjusting your portfolio's asset allocation based on market conditions. During a bear market, investors may reduce exposure to equities and increase allocations to less risky assets, such as high-quality bonds. 

Value Investing

• Value investors seek undervalued assets that may have experienced significant declines. They believe these assets have the potential to rebound when market sentiment improves.

Income-Generating Strategies

• Income-focused investors may use strategies like covered call writing to generate additional income from their holdings during bear markets. This may also involve shifting a larger amount of capital to high-quality bonds. 

Gold and Other Precious Metals

• Some investors turn to gold and precious metals as safe-haven assets during bear markets. These commodities may offer reduced volatility and serve as effective stores of value.