Bull and bear markets

Stocks have slumped into a bear market – following a 20 percent fall from their peak in late 2015 – as oil plunges and China’s economy slows. It is the ninth bear market since the Stock Market Crash of 1929, which triggered the Great Depression

Bull market: Refers to market in which share prices are on rise

Bear market: Stocks in decline over period of at least two months

S&P 500 Index Return (percent)

Bull market

Bear market

Recession

Return (%) Durations

-200 0 200 400 600 800 1,000

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2016

193.3% 3.7 years

-83.4% 2.8 years

815.3% 13.9 years

-21.8% 6 months

935.8% 15.1 years

-22.3% 6 months

143.7% 6.4 years

-29.3% 1.6 years

75.6% 2.5 years

-42.6% 1.8 years

845.2% 12.9 years

-29.6% 3 months

816.5% 12.8 years

-44.7% 2.1 years

108.4% 5.1 years

-50.9% 1.3 years

217% 6.9 years

Source: First Trust Global Portfolios