
<p><strong>Key Points</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>A “bear market” is when stocks see a 20 percent decline or more from a recent high — but they’re also marked by overall pessimism on Wall Street.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Since World War II, bear markets have lasted 13 months on average, and stock markets tend to lose 30.4 percent of their value.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>During those conditions it usually takes stocks an average 22 months to recover, according to analysis from Goldman Sachs and CNBC.</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Hedge fund veteran says the bear market has arrived, here&#039;s where you want to hide out" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lVCVuf27Ea0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p>It’s helpful to know what a “bear market” is, because based on history it looks like we could be here for a while.</p>



<p>The term on Wall Street is synonymous with serious, long-lasting declines in stock markets. In numeric terms, a bear market is a 20 percent or more drop from a recent peak.</p>



<p>The  hit that milestone on Monday, dropping 20 percentfrom its 52-week high. Markets have stumbled through what is usually one of their best months of the year, with indexes on track for their <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/17/worst-start-to-december-for-the-stock-market-since-great-depression.html">worst December performances since 1931, during the Great Depression</a>.</p>



<p>Aside from a percentage drop, there are other, more emotional ways to measure a bear market.</p>



<p>Pessimism tends to prevail. When good news isn’t enough to hold off sellers and despite solid economic conditions, markets continue to tank — that’s a bear market. The glass-half-full scenario is often overlooked, and any positive news seems to be forgotten by the close of trading.</p>



<p>In December, oversold markets have struggled to make a comeback, suggesting that investors are worried about something bigger. Still, economic fundamentals are not giving red flags of a recession, which is usually a necessary condition for a full-fledged bear market.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/yeezy.1545664055081-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-362964" width="694" height="169" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/yeezy.1545664055081-1.png 596w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/yeezy.1545664055081-1-300x73.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 694px) 100vw, 694px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>When do stocks bounce back?</strong></h2>



<p>If this bear market is anything like the last time, it could take some time to recover.</p>



<p>Since World War II, bear markets on average have fallen 30.4 percent and have lasted 13 months, according to analysis by Goldman Sachs and CNBC. When that milestone has been hit, it took stocks an average of 21.9 months to recover.</p>



<p>Even when stocks enter “correction” territory, which is defined by at least a 10 percent drop from a recent high, there’s a long road to recovery. History shows corrections last four months, and equities slide 13 percent before finding a bottom.</p>



<p>Traders have a laundry list of things to watch heading into next year. The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates, making it more expensive to borrow money. Last week, the central bank hiked its benchmark interest rate for a fourth time this year while Fed Chairman Jerome Powell signaled it would continue to unwind its balance sheet at the current pace.</p>



<p>Investors are also focused on tense trade talks with China, a government shutdown that could last through the end of this week and oil prices.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/chart1.1545676351569-421x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-362965" width="691" height="1681"/></figure>



<p>(<em>CNBC’s Michael Santoli contributed to this report.</em>)</p>



<p>This article was first published on CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/24/whats-a-bear-market-and-how-long-do-they-usually-last-.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/24/whats-a-bear-market-and-how-long-do-they-usually-last-.html</a> and is republished with its permission.</p>


COVID-19: South Africa eases lockdown to revive battered economy

We are now in a bear market — here’s what that means

<div style="max-width: 700px;"><video-js data-account="1571595826001" data-player="default" data-embed="default" controls="" data-video-id="6088050568001" data-playlist-id="" data-application-id="" class="vjs-fluid"></video-js></div>
<p><script src="https://players.brightcove.net/1571595826001/default_default/index.min.js"></script></p>
<p>South Africa’s venture capital industry experienced solid growth in 2018 despite the tough South African economic climate. 2018 was one of the best years for the industry with a 13.8 per cent increase of reported deals made. This is according to the Southern African Venture Capital (SAVCA) 2019 survey. Tanya van Lill, CEO of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


SA venture capital industry surges despite tough economic climate in 2018

<div style="display: block; position: relative; max-width: 640px;">
<div style="padding-top: 56.25%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; right: 0px; left: 0px;" src="//players.brightcove.net/1571595826001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5543623546001" allowfullscreen="" border=0 frameborder=0></iframe></div>
</div>
<p>The Nigerian Agriculture Promotion Policy is built to reduce the country&#8217;s dependence on food imports and increase export earnings. However this drive would not be impossible without the participation of micro small and medium sized companies.</p>


economic climate

We are now in a bear market — here’s what that means

SA venture capital industry surges despite tough economic climate in 2018

Opportunities available for Nigerian agropreneurs

News Tips

Advertise With Us

economic climate

We are now in a bear market — here’s what that means

SA venture capital industry surges despite tough economic climate in 2018

Opportunities available for Nigerian agropreneurs

News Tips

Advertise With Us

Newsletters