The term tank is derived from the traditional financial markets and refers to a significant negative financial performance of a specific asset. The expression “tank” can also apply to a particular sector or company that is struggling.

An asset is described as tanking when its price rapidly decreases. Additionally, an asset or portfolio is said to be in the tank if its financial performance has been declining substantially over an extended period.

An asset is considered to be rallying when it undergoes a swift short-term increase in value, while tanking indicates the opposite when market prices experience a sharp and sudden drop.

The phrase “tanking” is frequently used as the antonym of rallying. Conversely, the term bleeding typically describes a more gradual decline that happens over a longer timeframe rather than an abrupt and steep one. Therefore, a related term to “tanking” is “bleeding,” which also signifies a decrease in market prices.