Wild Wall Street: Five things to know about US stock volatility

Shares bid up by retail traders plunge after brokerages rein in excesses

The Fearless Girl statue stands in front of the New York Stock Exchange. The volatility in U.S. stocks is the product of a faceoff between retail investors and hedge funds. © Reuters

TATSUYA GOTO and KAORI YOSHIDA, Nikkei staff writers

January 29, 2021 05:06 JST

Updated on January 29, 2021 07:09 JST

NEW YORK -- Stock trades that seem to defy investor logic have roiled the U.S. equities market in recent days, reflecting the growth of a new variable: social-media-powered day traders.

These moves are seen by some as risky speculation and by others as a social crusade against the rich and powerful. Now, brokerages are moving to tamp down some of the excesses.