Stock Message Boards and Chats Run the Market

The general populations usually like to think that the stock market is generally a place for investment purposes and a place to put safe retirement money. However, even the larger more secure stocks and sectors are being infiltrated by the internet message board momentum. Institutions and Financial firms still hold large stakes in the big stocks, but more and more traders are independent now and bigger money is starting to be controlled in the hands of retail traders. Online Discount Brokerages are becoming more and more common along with the increasing demand for Self Direct IRAs (and RRSPs for our Canadian friends). All you have to do to check this is track the increasing profits of Online Brokerages and Trading Services.

Individual Traders and Investors are becoming the dominant force in the market. And because of this, their online communities (message boards and chat rooms) have become control the market. Public Sentiment on any given stock can control its movement and drastically affect its price. When something happens to a company, be it positive or negative, it can move that same company’s stock along with related stocks in the sector up or down. Buzz about the boards and in the chat rooms take control of the stock by increasing optimism or inducing panic selling. Be careful and be aware of the public sentiment of any and all stocks which you are invested in. Even though your company and the chart may be headed in direction, a board or chat room’s opinion can affect it greatly. Small Caps no longer belong to the Institution. Traders control the Stocks Now!