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The story of two bulls

Unlike the Charging Bull (or the Wall Street Bull) that arrived uninvited at the New York Stock Exchange's doorstep on December 15, 1989, the bronze Big Bull that now adorns the entrance to the Bombay Stock Exchange was actually commissioned by the bourse's officials.

Also, in contrast to the dreadful memories of the 1987 stock market crash in the US that led to the installation of the 3,200-kg bronze bull in New York, the desi bull at the BSE was installed for the exact opposite reason: to celebrate the unprecedented Bull Run that Indian stock markets have experienced over the past two years.

The BSE bull was installed with much fanfare on January 11, 2008. But barely 10 days later, the Indian stock markets witnessed their biggest-ever fall, leading to protests from brokers and investors who believed that the bull was bad omen and had brought ill-luck.

Image: The bronze bull, installed outside the Bombay Stock Exchange, has become a controversial installation with some brokers calling on stock exchange authorities to alter the position of the bull, based on superstition and astrological beliefs.

Also read: Market crash: Here's what you MUST do

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