Swedes' share assets greater than property value

For the first time ever, Swedes' equity assets exceed the value of real estate, according to a calculation from the bank SEB. Swedes thus have more assets on the stock market than in housing.

- A common development that we see when the economy is going well is that households tend to save a little less in the savings account. At the same time, risk appetite is increasing, says Américo Fernández, private economist at SEB.

But it's important to invest with thought, points out Moa Langemark, consumer protection economist at the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, in SVT's Ekonomibyrån.

- Basically, the stock market is fantastic for providing returns and opportunities to make dreams come true. But what is crucial to being able to be long-term is a buffer, says Moa Langemark.

In addition to that, she has three concrete pieces of advice.

- Look at your risk spread, be wary of any kind of fees that reduce your chances of return and be extremely careful about information, who you get it from and how it can potentially affect you.

"Flower bouquets on the stock market"

But for those worried about a stock market crash, there are warning flags to look out for.

- A clear cloud of worry I see in the stock market sky are so-called ETFs, which are a bit like buying bouquets of flowers on the stock exchange, says economics journalist Gabriel Mellqvist at EFN.

An ETF (exchange traded fund) is a fund that is traded on the stock exchange like a share, but unlike regular funds that are priced once a day, ETFs are traded continuously during the stock exchange's opening hours.

- It is a kind of mixed product on the stock exchange and a good way to spread the risks. But recently, in South Korea, it has become popular with ETFs that have only one share in them and are also highly leveraged. It's great fun for the little savers as long as the direction is up, but when it turns down, it goes fast.