In US stock market, who is the real big players drive stock price up or down? Funds, retail traders, professional personal traders, or others?
NOTA. The Fed is it. Ok ok. There isn't one simple answer. Depends on the stock, time of day, day of week etc. Also depends on how you define "drives price up or down".
Recently Fed, pumping stock markets to keep the appearance that all is great in the USA!! I'd guess Banks and Big trading houses, retail lag they'll buy the top and sell the bottom as it takes them time to gain confidence, someone has to buy so big boys can make $$$'s, why it always seems to go that way.
Pension funds are a big one... January 17, 2020 03:49 PM CalPERS tops $400 billion in total assets Arleen Jacobius Tweet Share Share Email Reprints Print Getty Images CalPERS' total assets have hit $401.4 billion — a new high, according to information on the pension fund's website. The California Public Employees' Retirement System, Sacramento, is 71% funded, current estimates show. This is up from 70.2% as of its June 30, 2018, actuarial valuation. The pension fund has 2 million participants and paid $24.2 billion in benefits in 2019, according materials for the board's Jan. 22 meeting. If states, US government, municipalities, and 401Ks need a good return, they can NOT put their money in CDs.
%% Fed, funds/pension plans/big banks,Fed; retail piling up gap up orders, so market makers/specialists helping them. Plus you have commercial patterns like bakery ,cooking up to many pumpkin pies/so hit the bids/buy on pumpkin pie/seasonals.........