Retail Investors Shift to Net Selling of U.S. Stocks and Options

Retail investors have recently shifted to net selling of U.S. stocks and options, marking a rare departure from their long-standing buying trend. According to BlockBeats, Citadel Securities reported this change on April 7, noting a significant decrease in net spending in March, which fell 55% from February and 70% from January's peak. The shift in options activity has moved towards a defensive stance, with increased demand for downside protection. Historically, such selling behavior by retail investors has often preceded a strong short-term rise in the S&P 500 index, with an average increase of 4.1% over two months. This change comes amid market volatility driven by rising oil prices and tensions with Iran, which have contributed to a 5% decline in the S&P 500 index this year, while Brent crude prices have surged by 80%.