housing bears <would have been> vindicated.

[hardrus]

Hello! Could anyone tell why is "would have been" used in the following sentence?

According to the 21st Century Business Herald, three cities have reported increases in the number of bank repos of Chinese properties. Has a foreclosure crisis begun in China? If so, the China housing bears would have been vindicated.

Thank you in advance.

Source, Website
Forbes

 

[Parla]

I think it's wrong and the writer should have said have been vindicated (no "would").

 

[anthox]

I don't mean to derail the thread, but this is sort of relevant to my providing a reasonable answer. What on earth is meant by "China housing bears"?

 

[hardrus]

I don't mean to derail the thread, but this is sort of relevant to my providing a reasonable answer. What on earth is meant by "China housing bears"?

a bear is a speculator who sells in anticipation of falling prices to make a profit on repurchase
source http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bear

 

[hardrus]

I think it's wrong and the writer should have said have been vindicated (no "would").

thank you!

 

[Parla]

"Bear" is a common financial term in English.