Speculators also use the markets, trying to profit on price swings.
But they added that price swings were essentially irrelevant at this time of the year.
In a day marked by sharp price swings, the Dow added 10.26 points to close at 2,201.49.
So huge price swings are probably with us to stay.
We have seen price swings of 15 percent or more in some of these stocks every four to six weeks.
That's because price swings can be exaggerated in light trading.
And that may be contributing to the sharp price swings.
While there is risk involved, most big builders have their sources within the industry for predicting major price swings.
Will they do so as the price swings grow wilder?
Although market participants said that little, if any, program trading took place today, chaotic price swings continued.