Breaking news: American investors and fence-sitters struck with Schleprock Syndrome as major stock market indices continue to trend near all-time highs. There are different types of fear, from missing out to being too late, and for the most part, a skeptical nation continues to fear the moment they buy American stocks, the market will crash.
Consequentially, what's happened this year is remarkable as Americans have been dumping billions of dollars of American stocks even as the rally continues to hold onto gains.
Some of that money was reinvested in emerging growth or other foreign markets, but some also went back into things like bonds, a sign of concern based mostly on a collective hunch the market is due.
But on the other end of the spectrum, corporate America has put its money where its mouth is following last year’s record year of share buybacks with even more buying this year.
The fear merchants and some investing purist scream this is all financial engineering, but at the end of the day, their complaints sound like "wowzy, wowzy, woo, woo!" How can you get over the anxiety of thinking your action of buying a stock will be bad luck for the entire stock market? Well, it’s a big market with lots of drivers from micro to macro and your purchase or buy is like a pebble tossed in the ocean – so don't let it get you down even if you feel jinxed.
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