The retreat of the amateur investors

10 min read . Updated: 05 Feb 2023, 07:12 PM IST Gunjan Banerji, The Wall Street Journal

During the pandemic lockdowns, scores of Americans got hooked on trading stocks, options and cryptocurrencies, driving up shares of companies that were once left for dead. Now some of these so-called retail investors are backing away from the markets after the worst year for stocks since 2008 (AP) — During the pandemic lockdowns, scores of Americans got hooked on trading stocks, options and cryptocurrencies, driving up shares of companies that were once left for dead. Now some of these so-called retail investors are backing away from the markets after the worst year for stocks since 2008 **(AP)**

A pandemic boom attracted scores of Americans seeking gains. Now that some are backing away, the markets risk losing a key support.

Amateur trader Omar Ghias says he amassed roughly $1.5 million as stocks surged during the early part of the pandemic, gripped by a speculative fervor that cascaded across all markets.

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The retreat of the amateur investors

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