Quote from Spectre2007:
The pervasive pessimism is keeping many previous market participants from entering back into equities. As the populace looks to credit markets for money holdings. It's creating the largest credit bubble all time. It's just not localized to USA. The limited participants in equities have to fend and fight for the naive pools of cash that enters the market looking for return or fight each other for each others cash from trading.
The fed treasury will be the buyer of last resort as the public stays out of the markets. Profits from trading are ultimately subsidized by the government.