(January 15 – 16:55 ET) – After scaling back their borrowing in October, investors began building up their debt positions again in November.

The latest numbers from the Investment Dealers Association put client margin debt at almost $11.3 billion at Nov. 30, 2000. Investor borrowing backed off in October to $10.6 billion, down from a high of $11.9 billion at the end of September.

It appears investors cut their leverage exposure dramatically in the wake of the fall market meltdown, but began loading up on debt again after many of those losses were wrung out. The November results restore the continuing trend to increasing retail debt over the past year.
-IE Staff