Individual investors' US stock and ETF purchases fall to lowest since June 2024

4 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 4

Net buying totalled $16.9 billion in April, according to Vanda Research, even as the S&P 500 rose 14% from its 30 March wartime low and logged eight record closes.
The muted retail inflows suggest mom-and-pop investors have not fully re-entered the rally, potentially leaving room for further gains if sentiment and buying strengthen.
AAII data showed bearish sentiment at 39.7%, above its historical average, while 38.1% were bullish, a mix some analysts view as consistent with a bull market that is not overheated.

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