Stock market and shares

• Many shares bought by ordinary people were bought 'on the margin'. This involved buying shares on credit.
• People had a strong belief in the chances of stability of the stock market
• There was a feeling the ' Bull Market' would go on forever
• The stock market was apparently corrupt - there were examples of insider dealings
• $14 billion was wiped off share values; there was a 14% drop in the market and confidence was lost
• Smaller farmers had no opportunity as markets shrank