What is a Bull in Trading - Key Traits, Strategies, and Real-Life Example

Imagine a market where prices are creeping up, where everyone thinks the future is bright, and traders are scrambling to buy - this is the “bull market,” the core force that drives prices higher. But what exactly is a “bull market” in finance? As a beginner, how to seize this market to make money?

In this article, you will know:

• How to define and identify a bull market?
• The tools to predict and ride upward trends
• A real-world example of forex bulls in action

What is a Bull in Finance?

In finance, a bull is an investor or trader who believes that the price of an asset—such as a currency, stock, or commodity—will rise and takes action to profit from this expectation. Bulls are optimistic market participants who “lean into” upward trends, often buying assets with the goal of selling them later at higher prices.

Bull vs. Bear: What's the Difference?

Example in Forex:

During a bull market in USD/JPY (e.g., 2022–2023 Fed rate hike cycle), bulls profited as the pair surged from 110.00 to 150.00. Conversely, bears dominated GBP/USD in 2022, shorting the pair as the UK faced recession risks.

Why Bulls Matter in Forex?

Forex bulls drive liquidity and price discovery. Their actions:

• Influence currency pairs by creating sustained demand.
• Signal confidence in a country‘s economy (e.g., buying the AUD during Australia’s mining boom).
• Create opportunities for trend-following strategies.

Pro Tip: Bulls thrive in environments of monetary tightening (e.g., central banks raising rates) or risk-on sentiment (e.g., investors flocking to high-yield currencies).

Characteristics of a Bull Market

A bull market is defined by sustained price increases, driven by a combination of technical, fundamental, and psychological factors. Heres how to identify one in forex:

⭐Price Action: Higher Highs and Higher Lows

Prices consistently form upward peaks (higher highs) and upward troughs (higher lows).

⭐Positive Market Sentiment

• Fundamental: Strong economic data (e.g., rising GDP, low unemployment).
• Monetary Policy: Central banks hiking interest rates (e.g., AUD/USD rallying on RBA rate hikes).
• Risk-On Mood: Investors favor high-yield currencies (e.g., NZD/JPY carry trades).

⭐Rising Trading Volume

Price rises on increasing volume (e.g., USD/JPY breaking 145.00 with record volume).

⭐Extended Duration

Weeks to years, depending on macro conditions.

• Short-Term Bull Market: GBP/USD rising 5% in a month due to BOE rate hike expectations.
• Long-Term Bull Market: USD/JPYs 38% surge from 2021–2023.

⭐Lower Volatility in Uptrends

Prices advance steadily without sharp pullbacks. But there is an exception, volatility spikes during breakouts (e.g., GBP/USD surging after UK election results).

⭐Broad Market Participation

Both small traders and big banks take long positions.

⭐Resistance Becomes Support

Previous resistance levels turn into support after a breakout.

Technical Indicators to Spot Bullish Trends

How to Trade: Bullish Trading Strategies for Forex

Bullish markets offer lucrative opportunities, but success depends on disciplined strategies. Here are three proven approaches to profit from rising forex trends:

1️⃣Trend-Following Strategy

What It Is?

Riding an established uptrend by entering during pullbacks (price dips).

How to Execute?

• Identify the Trend: Use 50/200-day moving averages (MA). A “golden cross” (50 MA > 200 MA) signals a strong uptrend.
• Wait for Pullbacks: Buy when the price retraces to the 50-day MA or a trendline.
• Confirm Momentum: Ensure RSI is above 50 (but not overbought).

Example:

• EUR/USD: During its 2020 bull run, traders bought dips to the 50-day MA (1.1600) amid EU recovery optimism.

Risk Management:

• Stop-Loss: Below the recent swing low (e.g., 1.1550).
• Take-Profit: Previous resistance levels (e.g., 1.2000).

2️⃣Breakout Strategy

What It Is?

Buying when the price breaks above a key resistance level with strong volume.

How to Execute?

• Identify Resistance: Look for horizontal levels where the price reversed previously (e.g., USD/JPY at 145.00).
• Wait for Confirmation: Enter after a close above resistance + rising volume.
• Ride the Momentum: Use trailing stops to lock in gains as the trend extends.

Example:

• USD/JPY (2023): Broke 150.00 resistance amid Fed rate hike bets, rallying to 155.00.

Risk Management:

• Stop-Loss: Below the breakout level (e.g., 149.50).
• Avoid False Breakouts: Use volume and time frames (e.g., 4-hour closes) for confirmation.

3️⃣Carry Trade Strategy

What It Is?

Profiting from interest rate differentials by buying high-yield currencies against low-yield ones.

How to Execute?

• Choose Currency Pairs:

High-Yield: AUD, NZD (e.g., RBNZ hiking rates).

1. Low-Yield: JPY, CHF (e.g., BOJs negative rates).
• Enter Long Positions:
1. Buy AUD/JPY or NZD/JPY to earn the interest rate spread.
• Hold for Weeks/Months:
1. Benefit from both price appreciation and daily swap rates.

Example:

• AUD/JPY: Traders earned a 3% annualized swap + 10% price gain during Australias 2022 rate hikes.

Risk Management:

• Avoid Overexposure: Carry trades are vulnerable to risk-off shifts (e.g., market crashes).
• Hedge with Options: Protect against sudden reversals.

A Real-World Bull Market Example

Lets analyze iconic forex bull markets to understand how theory translates to practice:

The USD/JPY pair experienced a prolonged bull market from 2022 to late 2023, climbing from 114.00 to a 32-year high of 151.95, driven by extreme monetary policy divergence and risk-seeking flows.

Key Drivers:

• Monetary Policy Divergence: The Federal Reserve raised rates aggressively (from 0% to 5.5%) to combat inflation, while the Bank of Japan (BOJ) maintained ultra-dovish policies, including a -0.1% rate and yield curve control (YCC) to cap 10-year JGB yields at 0.5%. This widened the USD/JPY interest rate differential, making the dollar attractive for carry trades.
• Risk Appetite: A global “risk-on” environment post-2022 market turmoil boosted demand for high-yielding assets, with the USD benefiting as a funding currency for riskier investments.

Technical Setup:

• Golden Cross Confirmation: In early 2022, the 50-day MA crossed above the 200-day MA, signaling a structural uptrend.
• Breakout Levels: The pair broke above 135.00 (June 2022) and later 140.00 (August 2022), with each breakout attracting momentum-driven buying.
• RSI Dynamics: Despite occasional overbought readings (RSI > 70), dips to the 50-day MA (e.g., 138.00 in Q3 2022) were swiftly bought, reflecting persistent bullish sentiment.

Outcome:

• Trend Followers: Traders profited by scaling into long positions during pullbacks to the 50-day MA or Fibonacci retracement levels (e.g., 142.00 in 2023).
• Carry Traders: Investors earned 5%+ annualized swap rates (due to the Fed-BOJ rate gap) alongside price gains, compounding returns.
• BOJ Intervention: Late 2023 saw sporadic BOJ intervention to curb yen weakness, but the trend persisted until the Feds pivot toward rate cuts in 2024.

Lesson:

This case highlights how central bank divergence and market sentiment can sustain multi-year trends in currency pairs. Traders who combined macro analysis (rate differentials) with technical triggers (MA crossovers, breakouts) capitalized effectively, while carry strategies amplified gains in low-volatility environments. However, the eventual reversal underscored the importance of monitoring macro shifts, such as Fed policy normalization and BOJ YCC adjustments.

Final Takeaway

Bull markets in forex are not just about rising prices—they‘re a reflection of economic strength, strategic positioning, and disciplined execution. Our advice is to use demo accounts to test bullish strategies on pairs like GBP/USD or AUD/JPY, stay informed (e.g., monitor central bank policies and macroeconomic calendars), and keep a trading journal to analyze what works (and what doesn’t).

FAQs

When are we in a bull market?

A bull market is a sustained period of rising prices, marked by higher highs/lows, positive sentiment, and increasing volume.

How long do forex bull markets last?

They can last weeks to years.

Whats the best indicator to confirm a bull market?

The golden cross (50-day MA > 200-day MA) is a strong signal. Combine it with rising volume and RSI above 50 for confirmation.

Are bull markets riskier than sideways markets?

Yes. Overconfidence, overleveraging, and sudden reversals pose unique risks. Always use stop-losses.

Can a currency pair be in a bull market while others decline?

Yes.

Should I hold positions overnight in a bull market?

Yes, if fundamentals and trends support it. But monitor for news events that could trigger gaps.

How do I adapt my strategy if a bull market weakens?

Tighten stop-losses, reduce position sizes, and watch for reversal patterns.