What characterizes a bear market?

A bear market is primarily characterized by a significant drop in prices of 20% or more from recent highs. This decline typically reflects a pervasive pessimism in the market, where investors expect further declines and may be less willing to buy securities, contributing to a continued downturn. Bear markets can be driven by various factors, including economic downturns, rising unemployment, declining corporate profits, or geopolitical instability, which collectively lead to a negative sentiment among investors.

In contrast, rising prices of securities would indicate a bull market, where investor confidence is high. Stable prices with little fluctuation do not align with the concept of a bear market, as bears signify falling prices rather than stability. High volatility and unpredictable price movements describe market uncertainty but do not specifically represent the defining characteristic of a bear market, which is the sustained decline of 20% or more. Hence, the focus on the significant price drop as the hallmark of a bear market distinctly identifies the market's bearish nature.