Symbol of bear market's beginning (5)
I believe the answer is:
totem
'symbol' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'bear market's beginning' is the wordplay.
'bear' becomes 'tote' (I've seen this in another clue).
'beginning' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'markets' is 'm'.
'tote'+'m'='TOTEM'
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "Sort of pole" , "Clan's emblem" , "Emblematic animal or object" , "Natural emblem of spiritual significance" , "Symbolic pole" .)