Missed call

According to a recent survey by the Investment Company Institute and the Securities Industry Association, one out of every two households in the US now owns stock. That translates into around 78.7 mn people, an increase of 85.6 percent since 1983. Many of these newly indoctrinated investors are fanatical. They surf the internet on their coffee or lunch breaks, combing through message boards and chat rooms in search of anonymous investment tips. They are a fickle bunch, ready to sell on rumors