One of the strongest bull markets ever was the bull market in the latter half of the 1990s, when record gains were recorded until the market peaked in 2000. A bull market is in contrast to a bear market, which is a market that is trading sharply lower by at least 20 percent.

The term bull market came into use in 1714 soon after the term “bear market” was introduced. One of its first uses was in Charles Johnson’s comic play, The Country Lasses. The citation was, “Instead of changing honest staple for Gold and Silver, you deal in Bears and Bulls.” Another reference was made in Colley Cibber’s play The Refusal in 1721.