Investing 101 — Bulls, bears, orders, and what actually moves prices.
Markets can feel chaotic, but the basics are simple. Prices move as buyers and sellers react to news and expectations.
Bull vs bear market: A bull market is an extended period of rising prices and optimism. A bear market is a sustained decline, often 20 percent or more.
Prices already reflect known information, and a large share of gains come in just a few unpredictable days. Missing those days badly hurts returns, so most investors do better staying invested.
Liquidity: How quickly an asset can be turned into cash near its value. Big company stocks are very liquid, real estate much less so.
Time in the market generally beats timing the market. Consistency tends to win over cleverness.
15 practice questions with explanations. Free, and no account is needed to start.