NEW YORK, NY – Financial experts at the prestigious firm of Goldman Sachs-Merrill-Lynch-Morgan Stanley-Chase-Bank-of-America-Wells-Fargo-Citibank-and-Partners have released a groundbreaking report confirming what many have long suspected: the stock market is now almost entirely propelled by an intangible force they’ve dubbed 'The Vibes.'

According to lead analyst Dr. Evelyn P. Quibble, traditional metrics like earnings reports, inflation data, and geopolitical stability have been largely superseded by a complex interplay of 'general optimism, meme stock energy, and whether or not people are feeling particularly spicy on a Tuesday.' The report, titled 'The Vibe-conomy: A Post-Rational Market Analysis,' suggests investors are now primarily reacting to a collective, often inexplicable, emotional state rather than fundamental value.

“We’ve observed a direct correlation between the market’s upward trajectory and the number of positive emojis used in financial Twitter feeds,” Dr. Quibble stated in a press conference held entirely on an Instagram Live stream. “Conversely, a sudden influx of shrugs or crying-laughing faces can trigger a significant downturn. It’s less about GDP and more about GDD – General Drip Dynamics.”

The report recommends that investors diversify their portfolios to include 'good energy,' 'manifested wealth,' and 'a strong belief that things will probably be fine.' Regulators are reportedly scrambling to understand how to audit 'vibes' for market manipulation.

In related news, a separate study found that 80% of market fluctuations could be directly attributed to whether a prominent financial pundit had a good night's sleep.