[taiwanboy]

Folks. Companies listed on the stock market hire average folks who need the money to provide for their spouses and kids. Companies that provide staples to you like food and gas and transportation and medical supplies.

These are the companies you are actively shorting. Think about that. This isn’t the same as 2008.

[munk-a]

Company's welfare is somewhat connected to their stock price, but it's a really weak relation. The stock market is mostly a gambling simulator that runs beside the economy as it's own little micro-economy - this doesn't make it worthless but it does make this sort of a statement ring really hollow.

[jacquesm]

The connection with the real world is made whenever a company floats some of their stock.

[whateveracct]

It's like fantasy basketball vs real basketball

[taiwanboy]

These days companies are VERY tied to quarterly EPS guidance and stock prices. Layoffs and adjustments closely follows that as well.

[jacquesm]

Only when those companies are trying to raise money. In the meantime, it is the speculators and the institutionals that hold a large chunk of what has been floated.