A bullish strategy reflects the expectation that prices—especially equity prices—will rise. Among the choices, purchasing stocks on margin is the most clearly bullish action because it uses borrowed funds to increase buying power and magnify exposure to potential stock price appreciation. If an investor is sufficiently optimistic about a stock or the market, they may choose margin to control a larger position than their cash alone would allow. This is a directional strategy: it increases sensitivity to gains when prices rise, which is the essence of a bullish position.

By contrast, reinvesting portfolio income into bonds (choice B) is not inherently bullish; it signals a preference for fixed-income allocation, typically associated with income, capital preservation, or lower volatility rather than expecting equity price appreciation. Halting reinvestment (choice C) can be a defensive move—choosing to stop adding to risk assets, possibly due to uncertainty. Increasing the cash percentage of an equities portfolio (choice D) is usually a bearish or risk-off action, since it reduces equity exposure and positions the investor more defensively against potential declines or volatility.

On the SIE, you’re expected to recognize that “bullish” aligns with actions that increase exposure to risk assets or benefit from rising prices, while “bearish” aligns with reducing exposure, increasing cash, or taking positions that benefit from declining prices. Margin is particularly testable because it also introduces additional risks—interest costs, maintenance requirements, and the possibility of margin calls—yet it is still fundamentally a bullish leverage tool when used to buy equities.