Actually I just find YOU extremely annoying. Notice how I respond to other people differently. I think you don't even understand the question.
Assuming you're still talking about "sideline" cash.... they sold their stocks to acquire cash. But that cash was transferred to the sellers of that stock. The cash is still in play but with a different player.
household checking account balances, corporate balance sheet cash, house hold debt service level to income ratio... all is public info.
According to this site, there's about 4 trillion in M1 money supply. If people decided to start investing/speculating in gold, stocks, bonds, etc., would that not reduce the M1 and increase everything else?
Wait. Are you telling me the guy who hasn't invested a single dime is going to understand the market through a forum post? LOL
Little of that is in trading accounts... chomping at the bit for the right opportunity to buy. And even it it were, it would simply be transferred to another player. IOW... "sideline cash" never goes away... just changes hands.
Read my post #3, then read his post saying I've never invested a dime. There is no point in responding to him.