But data from the Investment Company Institute, a mutual-fund trade group, show that net U.S.-stock mutual-fund purchases in March have been inconsistent and weak, raising questions about how enthusiastic the public really is.
Large biotech firm Amgen posted third quarter earnings after the bell on Monday, beating estimates and raising their full year outlook, as the stock rallied in early post-market trading.
With stock market losses since January a modest 4.5%, despite some hair-raising days, much of the upper middle class and those who have even more money in investments still have money to spend.