The Goldman Sachs CEO is Alarmed by Excessive Greed in the Market
Currently, the stock market is performing well, with major indexes on the rise, high stock trading activities, and a buzz in emerging sectors like cryptocurrencies and start-ups. Additionally, there has been a surge of new investors attracted by meme stocks. However, this rapid growth may lead to market oversaturation and a potential burst of the bubble.
During an interview at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, shared his concerns about the market, highlighting not its performance but its intense focus on profit. Solomon remarked, “When I reflect on my 40-year career, there have been times when greed overshadowed fear. We are currently in one of those phases.”
Reflecting on past experiences, Solomon added, “In general, my observation shows that such periods are short-lived. Eventually, something will rebalance the situation and provide a broader perspective.”
Goldman CEO @DavidSolomon cautions about potential market turbulence as the world navigates post-pandemic challenges.
“There have been periods of time when greed has far outpaced fear—we are in one of those periods,” he tells the #NewEconomyForum https://t.co/9sWa7tKUVm pic.twitter.com/ZbjtLBdgJ5
— Bloomberg (@business) November 17, 2021
Solomon’s concerns are backed by the CNN Business Fear & Greed Index, indicating extreme levels of investor greed at present. He attributes this trend largely to the substantial government stimulus introduced during the pandemic, which has inflated stock prices.
The Federal Reserve is contemplating scaling back bond purchases, but Solomon questions whether the market is prepared for this shift. He stated, “There’s a possibility that central banks could gradually reduce this extensive stimulus without causing a ‘taper tantrum’ or market shock, but there’s also a risk that it might not go smoothly,” Solomon expressed concerns that rising long-term interest rates could dampen market enthusiasm.
