Stock Holdings Reach All-Time High, Fueling Interest in Equities and Digital Assets\n\nThe Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances has reported that 58% of US households owned stock holdings in 2022, an all-time high. This increase in stock ownership has been driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty. As a result, many people are looking for opportunities to invest in the markets and gain exposure to single-stock names.\n\nStockTwits CEO Rishi Khanna recently sat down with Yahoo Finance to discuss the themes driving investor interest in equities and digital assets. He noted that the pandemic has been a foundational catalyst for bringing more people into the markets. \n\nCrypto Stocks Offer Potential for Strong Gains in the Coming Months\n\nWith Bitcoin on the rise and a new bull market anticipated, there is potential for significant gains in the crypto market. Investing directly in cryptocurrencies can be risky. A safer alternative is to invest in crypto stocks, which can provide exposure to the market while minimizing risk.\n\nMarathon Digital (MARA) is one such stock that has seen a 330% increase in value year-to-date. With a short interest of 24% of the free-float, there is potential for a short-squeeze rally if Bitcoin continues to trend upwards. The company has also undertaken a massive expansion plan, which is expected to result in healthy revenue and cash flow growth.\n\nArcher Aviation (ACHR) is another stock to watch in the flying car industry. With a 244% increase in value year-to-date, the stock is currently trading at the same levels as it was in July. With a short interest of 21% of the free-float, a short-squeeze rally could be on the horizon. The company’s merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corp has been completed, and it has a strong balance sheet with $1.1 billion in cash. This is expected to fund operations and growth for the next few years, with a commercial launch planned for 2024.\n\nIn a the stock market is seeing record levels of interest and participation, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainty.

Wall Street's Rally Continues, Asian Futures Point to Small Gains\n\nAsian equity futures pointed to small gains on Tuesday after Wall Street extended its relentless rally, buoyed by a burst of deals. Tempered messaging from Federal Reserve officials, the S&P 500 index rose 0.5% on Monday as more than $40 billion of mergers and acquisitions hit the wire. The Nasdaq 100 also closed at a record for the second consecutive session.\n\nJapanese and Australian shares were set to trade marginally higher, while Hong Kong futures declined. The rally in Treasuries took a breather on Monday, with yields climbing and the dollar steadying as the yen weakened.\n\nTraders will be watching Japan as the nation's central bank begins a two-day policy meeting. While speculation has grown that the Bank of Japan will soon end the world's last negative-rate regime, economists see April as the most likely timing for a change, according to a Bloomberg survey.\n\nIn China, weakness in the struggling property sector continues to weigh on its economic recovery. China South City Holdings Ltd. Warned it can't pay interest due Wednesday, raising the risk of default.\n\nOn Wall Street, the S&P 500 has enjoyed a seven-week bull run. Whether or not that will extend into an eighth week may be determined by near-term data readouts, including durable goods orders, personal consumption expenditures, and the final third quarter gross domestic product estimate.\n\nThe fear gauge for Wall Street, the VIX, continued to hover around 12, within striking distance of recent multi-year lows. Fed officials, including Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, have joined a growing chorus seeking to moderate market optimism on rate cuts.\n\nMeanwhile, European Central Bank Governing Council member Bostjan Vasle took a cautious tone following ECB President Christine Lagarde's comments last week that the bank had not discussed cuts at all.\n\nIn commodities, gold moved higher, while oil extended last week's rise as major shipping lines suspended transit through the Red Sea. Bitcoin also slumped.\n\nDespite tempered messaging from Federal Reserve officials, Wall Street's rally continued with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 reaching new highs.