Updated

Margin debt among U.S. investors has surged to record levels as retail traders increasingly borrow against their portfolios to amplify stock market bets, according to CNBC reporting that profiled investors like 29-year-old Hy Luu. The trend highlights rising risk appetite among individual investors during the current market environment. Analysts warn that elevated leverage can magnify losses during market downturns, raising concerns about financial stability if volatility increases, even as the borrowing binge reflects confidence in continued market gains.