Retail investors switch to net selling of US stocks for the first time since 2023



03/26/2026 6:24 AM


Retail investors in the US stock market started selling more stocks than buying for the first time since November 2023, according to a report by Bloomberg, which is based on data from the research firm Vanda Research.



Carlos Delgado; CC-BY-SA
On Monday, March 23, their total sales were $20.6 million. In recent years, retail investors have been the main ones buying when the US market goes down, but now the dangers are bigger than the possible gains, according to Bloomberg.

Retail investor interest in U.S. stocks has been declining as the Middle East conflict continues, according to Bloomberg. On March 23, they sold shares following the rise in the S&P 500 after Donald Trump announced a suspension of strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure.

On Tuesday, March 24, people who invest in the US stock market started buying again, and the amount of money flowing into the market was $262.3 million. However, the fact that retail investors are buying less is a worry, according to Bloomberg.

The newspaper notes that retail investors have played a role in keeping the markets steady during times of ups and downs over the last three years. The agency says this drop in interest might cause issues for the US market.

source: bloomberg.com

 


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