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Bank of America: Investors' Cash Levels Hit 15-Year Low Earlier This Year (and What It Means for Your Portfolio)

Earlier this year, professional investors reduced their cash holdings to the lowest level in more than a decade, Reuters reported, citing Bank of America's Global Research. Cash allocations fell to 3.5% in February 2025, the lowest level since 2010. Read Next: Explore More: That kind of drop often signals growing confidence in the market, but things have changed since then. So what does all of this actually mean for everyday investors? When institutional investors pulled their average cash allocations down to 3.5% in February, it signaled a shift in how fund managers were viewing the market. Bank of America noted that this shift reflected investors being bullish and long on stocks while short on everything else, reported. 'Equities started looking attractive again, while holding cash in hand seemed inefficient,' said Eugenia Mykuliak, founder of B2Prime Group. In short, fund managers reduced their cash positions as confidence in the economy improved and other investments started to look more worthwhile by comparison. Find Out: That optimism may have been premature. While February's numbers showed strong risk appetite, sentiment cooled quickly in the weeks that followed. By April, average cash allocations had already climbed back up to 4.8%. That was the largest two-month increase since April 2020, Trustnet reported. As Bloomberg reported, April's survey showed that investors were uncertain about trade policy and unsettled by stock market volatility. Because of this, survey respondents were 36% underweight in stocks in April compared with 17% overweight in February. 'The February optimism may have reflected a best-case scenario,' Mykuliak said. 'But markets rarely move in straight lines.' For everyday investors, institutional behavior can offer insight into market sentiment, but it shouldn't drive investment decisions. 'Retail investors should never replicate institutional behavior directly,' Mykuliak explained. Fund managers have access to advanced risk tools, alternative asset classes and short-term strategies that aren't available to most individuals. Bridger Pennington, a private fund manager and founder of Investment Fund Secrets, emphasized the importance of staying grounded and advocated being an investor rather than a trader. He also noted that while many professionals are cautious in the short term, the long-term view remains optimistic. 'The medium to long term is a very bullish outlook for North America and the United States if these tariff negotiations go well,' he said. It's also worth noting that professional investors don't always agree. While some reduced cash positions earlier this year, others — like Warren Buffett — took the opposite approach. Berkshire Hathaway continued increasing its cash reserves, suggesting a more conservative stance. The takeaway: Professional sentiment can help frame how the market is moving, but it shouldn't dictate your next steps. Stick to a long-term strategy that fits your goals and risk tolerance. The dip in cash holdings earlier this year reflected a moment of optimism among institutional investors, but that moment passed quickly. With renewed caution entering the picture, fund managers are adjusting again. If you're a retail investor, the message is simple. Use institutional data to be informed, not reactive. Understanding market sentiment can be useful, but your investment approach should still be built around long-term fundamentals. More From GOBankingRates What $1 Million in Retirement Savings Looks Like in Monthly Spending Are You Rich or Middle Class? 8 Ways To Tell That Go Beyond Your Paycheck 5 Little-Known Ways to Make Summer Travel More Affordable 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money Sources Reuters, 'Bullish investors cut cash levels to 15-year low, BofA says.' 'Cash levels at 15-year low, BofA survey shows.' Eugenia Mykuliak, B2Prime Group Trustnet, 'April's BofA Fund Manager Survey 'the fifth most bearish in 25 years.'' Bloomberg, 'Investors Haven't Been This Bearish in 30 Years, BofA Poll Shows.' Bridger Pennington, Investment Fund Secrets This article originally appeared on Bank of America: Investors' Cash Levels Hit 15-Year Low Earlier This Year (and What It Means for Your Portfolio)