How did the Joseph P. Kennedy Sr know to sell his stocks?

Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (1888-1969) was a prominent American businessman and politician who served as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1940. He is perhaps best known as the father of President John F. Kennedy, as well as Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy.

Kennedy made a fortune in the stock market and became a prominent figure in the financial industry. He was known for his aggressive investing style and was involved in a number of high-profile business deals. He is also remembered for his role in the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression.

In the late 1920s, Kennedy made a series of highly profitable stock market investments and became one of the wealthiest people in the United States. However, he was also criticized for his insider trading practices and was accused of manipulating the stock market to his own advantage.

On October 24, 1929, known as Black Thursday, the stock market experienced a dramatic crash, leading to the Great Depression. Kennedy, who had sold most of his stock holdings prior to the crash, was able to weather the economic downturn and emerge as a successful investor once again. However, his reputation was tarnished by his association with the stock market crash and he faced criticism for his role in the economic disaster.

There have been allegations that Kennedy engaged in insider trading during the stock market crash of 1929. Insider trading is the practice of buying or selling securities on the basis of material, nonpublic information, which is illegal in the United States.

According to these allegations, Kennedy received advance warning of the market crash from a member of the Federal Reserve Board and used this information to sell his stocks before the crash, thereby avoiding significant losses. Kennedy denied these allegations and no evidence has ever been found to support them.

It should be noted that the laws regarding insider trading were not as well-defined in the 1920s and 1930s as they are today, and it is possible that Kennedy may have engaged in activities that would be considered insider trading under today’s laws without necessarily intending to do so.

There have been various theories about Kennedy’s role in the stock market crash of 1929, including accusations that he contributed to the market’s instability through his insider trading practices and that he profited from the crash by selling his stock holdings before the market collapsed. However, there is no definitive evidence to support these claims and the true cause of the crash remains a subject of debate.

Overall, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. had a significant impact on the stock market and his business dealings and investments had far-reaching consequences.