A bearish market is a period in which security prices fall by more than 20% for a sustained time. If the decline lasts more than two months, it is considered an entry into a bear market.

Negative returns and a prolonged period characterize a bearish market. Pessimistic market sentiments lead to stock sell-offs, further weighing down the market.

Stock prices can fall due to several factors, including panic selling by investors, often triggered by an unexpected catastrophe, a financial crisis within one sector, market corrections, and a decline in corporate profits.

The bear market is not for the faint of heart. It requires courage to weather the storm. A bearish market’s best approach will depend on investors’ time horizons, investment goals, and risk tolerance.

Bear markets are something most people fear, but they can also be an excellent opportunity to build wealth and grow your portfolio.

Different Phases of Bear Market

The four phases that characterize bearish markets most often are the following:

Phase 1 is characterized by high prices mixed with high investor sentiment. As this phase ends, investors start to exit markets to keep their profits.

Phase 2 shows stock prices starting to fall, falls in activity, and profits for corporations beginning to drop. Additionally, even previously positive economic indicators begin to decline below the average.

Investor sentiment may begin to fall, and some investors might panic or worry. Capitulation is the term for this phase.

Phase 3 is when speculators enter the market. This causes prices to rise with the volume traded.

Phase 4 is the final and sees prices continue to fall slower. Investors are again attracted to the low prices and positive news, which makes bearish markets possible.

Strategies to Invest in a Bearish Market

Investors can be scared by bear markets. Nobody likes to see their portfolios fall. These can also be an opportunity to make money while stocks trade at a discount.

These are the rules to follow when investing in bear markets.

1. Think long-term: It is terrible to react quickly to market movements in a bearish market. Over the long term, the average investor is significantly less successful than the stock market overall.

The main reason is that investors tend to move in and out of stock positions too quickly. It’s an instinct to sell stocks “before they get worse” when stocks plummet and look like they will never recover.

When bull markets occur, and stocks reach new highs, it’s our instinct to sell in fear of losing out on the gains.

While it is well-known that investing’s primary purpose is to buy low and then sell high, emotional reactions to market swings can lead anyone to do the exact opposite. Do not sell stocks just because they are cheaper in a bear market.

2. Quality is the priority: Companies often go out of business when bear markets hit. Warren Buffett’s famous quote, “When the tide goes down, that’s when one find out who was swimming naked,” is quite logical.

Companies with too much debt or lack real competitive advantages are more likely to be hurt than those with high-quality companies.

Focusing on companies with solid balance sheets and durable competitive advantage during uncertain times is essential.

3. Do not try to catch the bottom. Timing the market is often a losing battle. Remember that one won’t invest at the bottom during bearish markets. To be a part of the business in the long term, one should buy stocks.

4. Build positions over time: This is similar to the previous tip. Instead of trying and time the bottom by investing all of the money at once, it’s better to build stock positions slowly over time.

If one is wrong and the stock falls further, one can take advantage of lower prices rather than sitting on the sidelines.

Bear runs do not last forever. Hence being patient with the investments will win the day. Do not be in a hurry to sell the stocks.

Hold shares for the long haul while keeping an eye on company progress. It is an excellent time to enter the market if one is a new investor. Give priority to invest in good stocks.