You hear these terms bandied about every day on the financial news, but have you ever wondered how these terms came to be? I just found out today, and I thought I'd share.

It has to do with the way these two animals attack their targets. A bull will lower his head and push up with his horns in order to throw the offending target into the air. Thus, a bull market is one that is on its way up.

A bear will swipe down with its claws in order to knock its prey to the ground. Thus, a bear market is one on the way down.