Invest
Are Millennials really the reason the stock market is stuffed?
Millennials are being blamed for the stock market’s continued volatility right now, but is it a well-founded judgement?
Are Millennials really the reason the stock market is stuffed?
Millennials are being blamed for the stock market’s continued volatility right now, but is it a well-founded judgement?
 
                                            
                                    According to Switzer Financial Group, “Millennial madness” is the reason for recent increases to both the ASX and US stock market, despite COVID-19 cases still rising the world over.
Peter Switzer said, “This oddity is explained by professional fund managers as the silly behaviour of Millennials as they get too engrossed in the stock market.”
Only 10 per cent of Australian Millennials actually invest in funds, according to a 2019 Calastone study – but more than three-quarters of those surveyed did indicate they plan to invest in the future.
Mr Switzer said there’s a newfound stock market appeal: “Term deposits are hopeless. People can’t buy homes. So, they’re looking to the stock market as an alternative to build wealth.”

Pengana Capital’s Rhett Kessler agrees: “Before it was the Belgian dentists. Then it was the New York taxi driver that you got your stock tips from. Now it’s the Millennials.”
Amid current uncertainty, Mr Kessler conceded, “Everybody is having a punt.”
But he warned that “this is not a time for embracing risk”.
Roger Montgomery of Montgomery Investment Management is also of the opinion that Millennials are “pretty responsible” for current market swings.
He flagged a United States example to add to his point: Hertz.
After declaring bankruptcy back in May, the car rental’s share price went up fivefold.
“People were punting on the equity not realizing that the equity and the capital structure is the last to be repaid,” Mr Montgomery explained.
“The speculation in the stock after they announced Chapter 11 bankruptcy just shows you how uninformed traders are at the moment.”
Did you enjoy this article? You may also be interested in:
- Advantages and risks of investing in shares over property
- Investors urged to look at valuations post-COVID-19
- Retail investors playing ‘particularly dangerous’ game
About the author
 
                About the author
 
                         
                                            Stock market
Westpac and CMC Markets strengthen partnership to enhance online trading services
In a significant move that underscores the evolving landscape of online trading in Australia, CMC Markets Stockbroking has been chosen as the preferred vendor by Westpac Banking Corporation to extend ...Read more
 
                                            Stock market
Portfolio reviews as an operating discipline: turning volatility into a competitive edge
In a higher-rate, higher-volatility world, portfolio reviews are no longer an annual hygiene task; they’re a core operating rhythm that protects cash flow, unlocks tax alpha, and sharpens risk ...Read more
 
                                            Stock market
Fee war on the ASX: Global X’s A300 turns up the heat on core Aussie equity ETFs
Global X has lobbed a 0.04% management fee into Australia’s core equity sandbox, launching the Australia 300 ETF (A300) to take on entrenched giants. Read more
 
                                            Stock market
Challenger IM shakes up the ASX with private credit note and a side of risk
Challenger Investment Management has taken private credit mainstream with an ASX-listed note structure—LiFTs—that secured roughly $100 million in cornerstone commitments within a day of launch. Read more
 
                                            Stock market
International stocks: Diversifying your portfolio beyond Australia
In an increasingly globalized market, Australian investors have the opportunity to enhance their investment portfolio by incorporating international stocks. Diversifying your investments globally can ...Read more
 
                                            Stock market
Stock market rally likely to continue regardless of Fed minutes tone, says deVere CEO
The bull run that has propelled Wall Street's major indexes to record highs this month is expected to continue regardless of the tone of the upcoming Federal Reserve minutes, according to Nigel Green, ...Read more
 
                                            Stock market
US stock rally driven more by valuation growth than earnings, leaving tech names vulnerable: Innova
The strong gains in US stocks over the past year, particularly in the technology sector, have been driven more by expanding valuations than underlying earnings growth, leaving them exposed to a ...Read more
 
                                            Stock market
Sun Silver to make its ASX debut with a $13 million IPO
Sun Silver Limited (proposed ASX Code: "SS1") has announced the opening of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) today, aiming to raise a minimum of $10 million and a maximum of $13 million (before costs)Read more
 
                    Stock market
Westpac and CMC Markets strengthen partnership to enhance online trading services
In a significant move that underscores the evolving landscape of online trading in Australia, CMC Markets Stockbroking has been chosen as the preferred vendor by Westpac Banking Corporation to extend ...Read more
 
                    Stock market
Portfolio reviews as an operating discipline: turning volatility into a competitive edge
In a higher-rate, higher-volatility world, portfolio reviews are no longer an annual hygiene task; they’re a core operating rhythm that protects cash flow, unlocks tax alpha, and sharpens risk ...Read more
 
                    Stock market
Fee war on the ASX: Global X’s A300 turns up the heat on core Aussie equity ETFs
Global X has lobbed a 0.04% management fee into Australia’s core equity sandbox, launching the Australia 300 ETF (A300) to take on entrenched giants. Read more
 
                    Stock market
Challenger IM shakes up the ASX with private credit note and a side of risk
Challenger Investment Management has taken private credit mainstream with an ASX-listed note structure—LiFTs—that secured roughly $100 million in cornerstone commitments within a day of launch. Read more
 
                    Stock market
International stocks: Diversifying your portfolio beyond Australia
In an increasingly globalized market, Australian investors have the opportunity to enhance their investment portfolio by incorporating international stocks. Diversifying your investments globally can ...Read more
 
                    Stock market
Stock market rally likely to continue regardless of Fed minutes tone, says deVere CEO
The bull run that has propelled Wall Street's major indexes to record highs this month is expected to continue regardless of the tone of the upcoming Federal Reserve minutes, according to Nigel Green, ...Read more
 
                    Stock market
US stock rally driven more by valuation growth than earnings, leaving tech names vulnerable: Innova
The strong gains in US stocks over the past year, particularly in the technology sector, have been driven more by expanding valuations than underlying earnings growth, leaving them exposed to a ...Read more
 
                    Stock market
Sun Silver to make its ASX debut with a $13 million IPO
Sun Silver Limited (proposed ASX Code: "SS1") has announced the opening of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) today, aiming to raise a minimum of $10 million and a maximum of $13 million (before costs)Read more
 
     
                 
                
