The definition of a market trend is simply the movement within a financial market over a period of time. Using varying forms of technical analysis, market trends are recognized in order to help predict price in response to the course of the market. There are three types of market trends: secular trends, primary trends, and secondary trends. Secular trends are movements in a particular direction and are characterized as an occurrence that of which are neither cyclical nor seasonal and exists over an extended period of time, usually five to 25 years. Primary trends are supported throughout the entire financial market, not only segments or sectors, and usually have a duration of a year or greater. Secondary trends are short term directions in price within a primary trend. Secondary trends usually last for a few weeks up to a few months. Within these trends, sectors of the market or the entire market can be classified as showing signs of being either bearish or bullish, meaning the price of securities are rising or falling and will continue to so over a period of time. Bull Market In times of a bull market, security prices, once again, in certain sectors or as a whole, are increasing and/or expecting to increase and also show signs of increasing at a more rapid rate than the historic average.