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  5. MISC: Dear Peter et al [Miscellaneous]
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Investment Q&A

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Q: Dear Peter et al:

It is not Rocket science that Trump's not so cryptic messages on Social Media create wide fluctuations in the market. Today it centered around EU. It could be about Japan tomorrow. Who knows?!

My question is: Are these wild fluctuations in the market caused by retail investors or Institutional investors. In other words, who exhibits "herd behavior", retail or institutional investors?! Do you see any specific pattern, especially in specific sectors?
In one of your recent answers, you had warned to be cautious about Discretionary sector. Hence this question.
Asked by Savalai on May 28, 2025
5i Research Answer:

Our non-answer is probably 'both'. The reactions happen so quickly and in such an extreme manner, we have a hard time believing it is 'retail day trading' or something along those lines. With that said, as the news starts to get digested, retail likely then feeds into the initial move. We don't think there is a specific pattern to be taken aside from accepting that things seem to move a bit quicker and a bit 'further' than they did in the past.