Market Is Up: What it Means, How it Works, Example (2024)

What Does "Market Is Up" Mean?

The phrase "market is up" means the stock, bond, or commodity market, or an index representing them, currently trades higher than it did at some specific point in the past. Most of the time, financial media and individual investors refer to the stock market, saying it is up or down, they are comparing it to the previous trading session.

Often a follow-up usage of the term will coincide with a reference to the performance during the previous week, month, quarter, or year to date. The opposite of market is up would be "market is down" or "market is off".

Key Takeaways

  • "Market Is Up" is a common phrase used when a given market closes higher than the day before.
  • The opposite phrase is "the market is down" or "the market is off."
  • Markets usually trade higher when new information is disseminated.

Understanding the Phrase "Market Is Up"

When a given trading market (most frequently the U.S. Stock market) is being reported by financial media, this phrase will be used when, in comparison to the previous day's closing level, the reference price is higher. This could also refer to the previous week's closing level or even last year's closing level (year to date).

The opposite phrase is the market is down or, very commonly, the market is off by a given amount. For example, it is not unusual to hear a financial reporter say, "Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was off nearly one percent by today's close," meaning the closing price of the current day was nearly one percent lower than the close of the day before.

Many factors can be used to explain why the market is up for a given trading session, but in the end, the core driver of prices is the frequency and net volume of purchases or sales. If more people bought than sold, or if buyers bought at more rapid intervals than sellers throughout the trading session, then the market is likely to close higher. This dynamic usually happens because new information occurs in the market that modifies the valuations for assets that professional money managers are modeling.

Example

As an example, during earnings season, better-than-expected reports from a number of companies could increase the projected values of these companies. Analysts use pricing models which are updated instantly or soon after surprise news has been released. When such news disseminates, it likely, in turn, drives up the market.

Additionally, job reports can impact it, as can the federal funds rate set by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). Since that rate is what the government charges banks to borrow from the Federal Reserve, any changes will impact interest rates throughout the economy. In general, the stock market rises when interest rates move lower because looser money means more consumer spending and business investment.

Indeed, it could be a change in investor attitudes following an election, a new product launch, or geopolitical calming.

When reporters say the market is up,they often mean that the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), an index of 30 key stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ, is up. If the Dow closed at 22,800 on Monday and at 23,000 on Tuesday, the market would be up at Tuesday's close.

When the Market Is Up, Most Investors Make Money

An up market does not necessarily have a positive impact on all investors. For example, traders who own stocks can benefit when the stock market is up. However, bond traders may lose money because bonds often fall in value when stocks rise.

When the market is up broadly and for a long period of time, investors must face a decision about how to proceed. For example, in December 2017, the stock market was well into one of the longest bull markets on record. Should investors take some profits and reduce risk? Of course, that is an individual decision based on one's personal situation and risk profile.

In January 2018, the market finally began a long-awaited correction, falling by about 12% in just a few weeks' time. Investors already holding stocks for months or longer still believed the market was up for them. However, investors buying just ahead of the decline did not agree.The market being up depends on who you are and when you started.

Market Is Up: What it Means, How it Works, Example (2024)

FAQs

What does it mean if the market is up? ›

"Market Is Up" is a common phrase used when a given market closes higher than the day before. The opposite phrase is "the market is down" or "the market is off." Markets usually trade higher when new information is disseminated.

What is a market and how does it work? ›

market, a means by which the exchange of goods and services takes place as a result of buyers and sellers being in contact with one another, either directly or through mediating agents or institutions. Markets in the most literal and immediate sense are places in which things are bought and sold.

How does the market go up? ›

If more people want to buy a stock (demand) than sell it (supply), then the price moves up. Conversely, if more people wanted to sell a stock than buy it, there would be greater supply than demand, and the price would fall. Understanding supply and demand is easy.

What the stock market really is and how it really works? ›

The stock market is where shares of companies and other financial instruments are bought and sold. It's a network of all-stock trading where investors and traders buy and sell stocks. These trades determine stock prices, reflecting the company's perceived value and market conditions.

What is the up market? ›

adjective. appealing or catering to high-income consumers; of high quality; not easily affordable or accessible: upmarket fashions.

What does rise in the market mean? ›

Market growth is defined as an increase in the sales volume of products, services, and economic activity over time. The number of people that are interested in buying these products, services, and economic activity, will also increase over time, which will lead to more demand on the current supply.

What is market with example? ›

A market is where buyers and sellers can meet to facilitate the exchange or transaction of goods and services. Markets can be physical, like a retail outlet, or virtual, like an e-retailer. Other examples include illegal markets, auction markets, and financial markets.

What is market answer in one sentence? ›

Answer: A market is described as the total sum of all the purchasers and sellers in the area or region being considered. The area may be the earth, country, region, state, or city. The worth, expense and cost of traded items are according to the supply & demand forces of a market.

What is a market short answer? ›

Definition: A market is defined as the sum total of all the buyers and sellers in the area or region under consideration. The area may be the earth, or countries, regions, states, or cities. The value, cost and price of items traded are as per forces of supply and demand in a market.

What makes up a market? ›

National economies can also be classified as developed markets or developing markets. In mainstream economics, the concept of a market is any structure that allows buyers and sellers to exchange any type of goods, services and information. The exchange of goods or services, with or without money, is a transaction.

How do you know if the market is up or down? ›

You can identify an up-trend by spotting a series of bars with higher highs and higher lows. Similarly, a down-trend can be identified by a series of bars with lower highs and lower lows.

Why do markets rise? ›

In general, strong earnings generally result in the stock price moving up (and vice versa). But some companies that are not making that much money still have a rocketing stock price. This rising price reflects investor expectations that the company will be profitable in the future.

How does the market work? ›

Because of the immutable laws of supply and demand, if there are more buyers for a specific stock than there are sellers of it, the stock price will trend up. Conversely, if there are more sellers of the stock than buyers, the price will trend down.

How to understand the stock market for beginners? ›

How to start investing in stocks: 9 tips for beginners
  1. Buy the right investment.
  2. Avoid individual stocks if you're a beginner.
  3. Create a diversified portfolio.
  4. Be prepared for a downturn.
  5. Try a simulator before investing real money.
  6. Stay committed to your long-term portfolio.
  7. Start now.
  8. Avoid short-term trading.
Apr 16, 2024

Can you get money from stock market? ›

The primary reason that investors own stock is to earn a return on their investment. That return generally comes in two possible ways: The stock's price appreciates, which means it goes up. You can then sell the stock for a profit if you'd like.

Is it good if the stock market goes up? ›

Sometimes, markets rise because stocks become more valuable: Profits grow, and the long-term prospects of companies improve. The market is supposed to go up over the long term. For decades, that's primarily what it's done – with plenty of crashes and head-fakes along the way.

What does a rising stock market indicate? ›

A rising stock market often indicates confidence in both businesses and investors, which can have an impact on GDP.

When the market goes up do you buy or sell? ›

If there is a greater number of buyers than sellers (more demand), the buyers bid up the prices of the stocks to entice sellers to sell more. If there are more sellers than buyers, prices go down until they reach a level that entices buyers.

What is it called when the market goes up? ›

Bull market: a period of generally rising prices. See Market trend.

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