Stocks surged in 2024 even as Americans fretted over the economy

6 comments

1. If you invested in the stock market this year, chances are you came out pretty well.

   The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite index rose to record highs, as investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence fueled a massive bull run and investors cheered the Federal Reserve’s shift to lower interest rates. Participants in 401(k) and 403(b) plans also benefited big, with Fidelity Investments [reporting](https://newsroom.fidelity.com/pressreleases/fidelity–q3-2024-retirement-analysis–retirement-savers-benefit-from-continuous-growth/s/11610b39-0348-41f2-bd74-6c1cf191a249) account balances reached their highest averages on record.

   The stock market soared despite Americans’ [widespread discontent with the economy](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/09/democrats-election-economy-inflation-harris-biden/?itid=lk_inline_manual_5), highlighting a disconnect between the experiences of many U.S. households and the performance of their investments. U.S. markets outperformed those in Europe and Asia: The S&P 500 gained 23 percent this year, while the Shanghai Composite Index rose 14 percent and the STOXX Europe 600 moved up 5 percent, as of Tuesday morning.

   Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/12/31/stocks-indexes-sp500/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/12/31/stocks-indexes-sp500/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)

2. The market went up because of all the new money in the world AND the US has had one of the better recoveries from covid. So, all the new money flooded to the one place where investing still makes sense. People in India and all over the world are investing in the USA due to the proliferation of investing apps and the openness of our financial system.

3. Only 35% of the Americans own stocks outside of their retirement accounts.

   That’s why we have such a divergent experience re: the economy this year

4. Why would we ever care…. 93% of it is owned by 10% of people…. This has lost complete connection to the general economy…

   I’m not saying it shouldn’t exist… But it’s like the fine art market… It’s just a snobby circle jerk…

   Can we find some meaningful metric?

   Median Average Debt / Income… Or something

5. The stock market is not the economy.

6. The stock marble continue to rise into next year. Invested people in rich people will get richer. Everyone else like the peasants and common folks are screwed.

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