But panic selling and blind devotion can be hazardous to net worth.
To prevent what could have turned into panic selling, the Bank of Japan stepped in and bought at least $1.5 billion.
But judging from statistics on margin loans, public investors were not sent into panic selling.
To raise cash, there was panic selling of homes and businesses, and that made prices fall even more.
Volume was only moderately heavy yesterday, with no signs of panic selling.
"Nevertheless, no real signs of panic selling appeared, as evidenced by the relatively low 162-million-share trading volume."
An unidentified bank officer contended that the trouble was started by brokers seeking commissions from panic selling of the bank's stock.
But after the report was released, "the dollar dropped off very quickly on panic selling," he added.
Traders said panic selling was forcing some investors to sell gold to cover margins calls.
In many cases, a municipality will act only after panic selling has begun, when people realize they can't sell their homes.
That means they are not as vulnerable to outsized losses and panic selling to cover their loans.
Simply buying stocks without regard of a possible bear market can result in panic selling later.
But there was none of the panic selling apparent on Thursday.
Analysts said there was none of the panic selling that some feared might have develop if the market cracked the 20,000 barrier.
Prices of other casino issues were also weak, although traders said there was no panic selling by portfolio managers.
There might be some panic selling among the lower-end stores.
That process fed on itself and contributed to the panic selling on the five days, the report concluded.
There was no sign, however, of the panic selling evident in other financial centers.
There was, in fact, a whiff of panic selling yesterday.
One clue they point to is the lack of panic selling in the market.