Re: "Fractal noise"
That covers quite a bit of it. I'm no expert, but I think much of the market today is moved by computers, systems instructed to buy and sell without thought when certain triggers are detected. My own computer link to my accounts offers this service. No thanks. I maybe make two trades a year.
On the whole, the stock market reflects a steady and real growth, but only in timelines measured in years. It's a good place to be if you're about thirty. It's not a good place to be if you're close to retirement. And always, there's the ever-decaying dollar sitting at the foundations.