Where do the terms “bear” and “bull” markets come from?

A major stock index entered “bear” market territory recently. One of our listeners is wondering why we call it a “bear” or “bull” market and where those terms come from. We have some answers. Plus, more of your questions about gun manufacturing, the Federal Reserve and why the heck Mariah Carey is getting sued over her holiday hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You” almost 30 years after it was released?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Why we use animals to describe what’s going on with the stock market or economy” from Marketplace
The Gun Industry in America from The Center for American Progress
“President Biden calls for assault weapons ban and other measures to curb gun violence” from NPR
“Colt Says Its Decision to Stop Making AR-15 Rifles for Civilians Is Driven by Customers. Experts Aren’t So Sure” from TIME Magazine
“How Mariah Carey’s Christmas Hit Can Still Face a Copyright Lawsuit 30 Years Later” from Billboard

If you have a question you’d like us to find the answer to, send it our way. We’re at [email protected] and (508) 827-6278 or (508) U-B-SMART.