🔥Citadel: Retail investors net sold US stocks and options last week, and historical data suggests a potential strong short-term rally

Citadel Securities reports that retail investors net sold US stocks and options last week, contrasting with the rare trend of continuous buying over the years. Net outflows in March decreased by 55% compared to February and dropped 70% from January's peak. Options activity shifted to a defensive stance, with increased demand for downside protection. Historically, this retail selling behavior often signals a strong short-term rise in the S&P 500 index, with an average gain of 4.1% over the next two months. This shift comes amid market volatility triggered by rising oil prices and conflicts in Iran in March, which caused the S&P 500 to decline by 5% year-to-date, while Brent crude oil prices...