A market or a period of time that is characterized by increasing prices (of securities and other types of assets), all in the midst of optimistic market sentiment. Generally, a bull market occurs when prices increase by 20% or more in a broad market index over at least a two-month period.

A bull market, in securities and commodities trading, denotes an advancing market. Investors or market participants who expect prices to rise are known as bulls. Such market players tend to purchase securities or commodities on expectation of being able to resell later for a profit.

A bullish market is a marketplace or set-up in which prices are generally expected to increase, shortly or in the near future, and  for a sustained period of time.

A bear market is the opposite of a bear market.