Citadel: Retail Investors Net Sold U.S. Stocks and Options Last Week, Historical Data Suggests Strong Rally Ahead

BlockBeats News, April 7th: Citadel Securities reported that retail investors net sold U.S. stocks and options last week, contrasting with a rare trend of continuous buying over the years.

Net outflows in March decreased by 55% compared to February and by 70% compared to the peak in January. Options activity shifted towards defensive positions, showing an increased demand for downside protection.

Historically, this kind of retail selling behavior has often foreshadowed a strong short-term rally in the S&P 500 index, with an average increase of 4.1% over two months. This shift comes against the backdrop of rising oil prices in March and market turbulence triggered by the Iran conflict, resulting in a 5% year-to-date decline in the S&P 500 index and an 80% increase in Brent crude oil prices.