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Back in the ’90s a Fed chief warned about ‘irrational exuberance’ in the markets. Stocks rose 105% over the next 4 years
Yahoo Finance·2025-09-30 10:00

Core Insights - The recent headlines regarding Fed Chair Powell's comments on stock prices have sparked comparisons to past events, particularly Alan Greenspan's "irrational exuberance" speech, which preceded the market crash of 2000 [1][3][4] - Powell's remarks indicated that while the Fed monitors stock prices, it does not target specific price levels for financial assets, acknowledging that equity prices are currently "fairly highly valued" [2][4] - Historical context suggests that while Powell's comments may raise concerns, they do not necessarily dictate market movements, as investor behavior is influenced by multiple factors beyond the Fed's statements [5] Market Valuation Indicators - Current measures indicate that the S&P 500 is significantly overpriced, with the Shiller Cyclically Adjusted Price/Earnings ratio at its highest since the dotcom peak [5] - The price-to-sales ratio has reached a new all-time high, further supporting the notion of overvaluation in the market [5] - The Buffett Indicator, which compares market capitalization to GDP, also suggests that stocks are highly overvalued, leading to Warren Buffett holding a substantial cash reserve due to a lack of attractive investment opportunities [5]