Causes of the Great Depression · US History

Why were many stock prices considered overvalued before the crash?

  1. Prices rose faster than company profits and real economic strength justified
  2. The federal government required every stock to be sold at the same price
  3. Companies were formally forbidden from selling any shares publicly
  4. No American citizens were legally permitted to invest in the stock market whatsoever
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Correct answer: Prices rose faster than company profits and real economic strength justified

Many stocks rose because of investor optimism and speculation rather than actual business performance. This created a bubble that became unstable when confidence weakened.

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