How much does the market need to fall to officially be a bear market?

The commonly accepted threshold is a decline of 20% or more from recent highs in a broad market index, sustained over a meaningful period rather than a single sharp drop.

Can a bull market and bear market happen at the same time?

Yes, at a sector or individual stock level. A broad index can be in a bull market overall while specific sectors or stocks are down 20% or more from their own highs.

What typically triggers a bear market?

Common triggers include tightening monetary policy, slowing economic growth, unexpected geopolitical events, or a broader loss of investor confidence in future earnings.

Do bull markets last longer than bear markets?

Historically, yes. Bull market periods have tended to last significantly longer and deliver larger cumulative gains than bear market declines, though this varies by cycle.