Retail investors fueled a meme-stock rally this week, pouring money into heavily shorted, struggling companies like Opendoor and Kohl's. A "conservative" investor wagered $20,000 on Opendoor, while a student invested $2,000 in Kohl's options. This surge in activity, even with record S&P 500 highs, highlights the influence of social media and day trading on market volatility. Some investors even relied on ChatGPT for stock selection.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.