THE EMPOWERMENT OF POST-COVID RETAIL TRADERS: A PARADIGM SHIFT IN WALL STREET DYNAMICS

Abstract

The Covid-induced stock market crash of March 2020 brought about an unforeseen transformation in the financial world. Traditionally dominated by fortune 500 corporations and their shareholders, the stock market was perceived as an exclusive playground for the wealthy. Individual retail traders, on the other hand, were often stigmatised as "dumb money," engaging in sketchy money-related activities. However, the post-Covid era witnessed a remarkable surge in retail trading volume, a shift attributed to user-friendly brokerage services, a risk-taking younger demographic, and an array of external factors such as stock price fluctuations, government lockdowns, and changes in monetary policies. This surge in retail trading marked the beginning of a revolution that has forever changed Wall Street dynamics. This journal delves into the factors contributing to this paradigm shift, the subsequent rise of "meme stocks," and the profound impact of post-Covid retail traders on the stock market and the broader financial landscape.