EL7.AI
StocksMedium•6 April 2026•
1 min read

Schwab Trading Activity Index Sees Steepest Monthly Drop Since May 2025

Key Facts

1The Schwab Trading Activity Index (STAX) decreased to 56.04 in March 2026, down from 57.32 in February.
2This decline represents the steepest monthly drop for the index since May 2025.
3Schwab retail investors turned slightly bearish in March as the military conflict began.

The Schwab Trading Activity Index (STAX) experienced its most significant monthly decline in nearly a year, falling to 56.04 in March 2026. This reading marks a notable decrease from the 57.32 recorded in February, representing the steepest drop since May 2025. According to data from Charles Schwab, retail investors shifted toward a slightly bearish stance during the month as geopolitical tensions escalated. This change in sentiment was primarily driven by the onset of a military conflict, which introduced heightened uncertainty into global financial markets. The decline in the STAX index reflects a broader reduction in risk appetite among individual traders responding to macro instability. Market analysts suggest that such a pullback in retail activity often correlates with increased volatility across major instruments like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100.