Retail investors are ditching riskier crypto bets in favor of ETFs, says WSJ's Gunjan Banerji

Core Insights - Retail investors have been highly active in the markets this year, significantly increasing their investments in broad-based ETFs and other assets [1][2] - Despite institutional doubts about the sustainability of the AI trade, retail investors continue to invest in AI-related stocks [2] - Retail investor leverage has reached record levels, with brokerage account leverage exceeding $1.1 trillion, the highest since the 1990s [3][4] Investment Trends - Retail investors are purchasing assets at a rate 50% above last year's levels, indicating strong market participation [2] - Leveraged ETFs have seen assets surpassing $140 billion, reflecting the confidence of retail investors despite recent market volatility [5] - Individual investors have experienced a 15% return on the S&P 500 this year, contributing to a positive sentiment heading into the Thanksgiving holiday [7][9] Market Performance - The U.S. market has delivered strong returns over the past two years, with this year being the best in a quarter-century [9] - While some retail favorites have faced declines, broader ETF inflows have continued for 10 consecutive weeks, indicating sustained interest in diversified investments [11]