From buy-the-dip to ETFs, here are the 3 trends that have defined day traders in 2025

Core Insights - 2025 has been a record year for retail traders, with activity up 50% compared to the previous year, indicating increased volatility in the market [1] Group 1: Investment Trends - A significant dip-buying trend was observed, with three major events occurring in the first four months of 2025, leading to 75% of current stock-market positioning during that period, particularly benefiting Nvidia and Tesla [2] - Retail investors have shown reduced enthusiasm for dip-buying in recent weeks, opting to remain on the sidelines during market weakness, with day traders acting as net sellers due to valuation concerns [3] - Purchases of the top 30 AI stocks have been made at the expense of broader market stocks, referred to as the "SPX 470," contributing to increased concentration in mega-cap tech names [8] Group 2: ETF Dominance - ETFs have accounted for 75% of retail-trader inflows in 2025, with a notable shift from single-stock buying to ETFs and options following the volatility from February to April [4] - The SPDR Gold Shares ETF has attracted significant retail interest, coinciding with a more than 60% surge in gold prices through October [5]