Record‑High Stock Exposure: Boom Benefits, Bigger Bust Risks | CNN2.0

📈 Americans’ stock exposure is at a record, with equities now about 45% of household financial assets, up from 13% in 1980, amplifying both wealth effects and downside risk if markets slide
🧮 Concentration risk: The top 10% of households hold roughly 87% of stocks, so a downturn could quickly dent high‑income spending that has helped prop up growth
⚠️ Tariff scare case study: A March–April selloff tied to tariff fears risked a self‑fulfilling recession before the President paused the tariffs, after which markets rebounded sharply
🚀 Since April 8, the S&P 500 reportedly added about $15 trillion in market value, underscoring how rallies can boost confidence, spending, and the broader economy—until momentum reverses
🔁 Macro takeaway: With stocks now intertwined with household balance sheets at historic levels, the market’s swings wield outsized influence on real‑economy sentiment and spending cycles

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