The stock market Squid Game: Who's at risk, who gets hurt, and how to save your skin

In the Netflix thriller Squid Game, a group of people sign up to play and win a fortune, only to find themselves trapped in a bloodbath. A similar game may be unfolding in India's small- and mid-cap stocks space, where investors who bet on instant riches may struggle to exit free-falling low-float stocks. “Free float has always been a concern, especially for small-caps more than mid-caps, and this issue becomes even more critical in sharply falling markets like the one we're witnessing today," he said. “We foresee that the mid and small-cap space could correct another 10-15%, which means many retail investors—who haven’t been able to exit due to lower free float—might end up stuck with these stocks for an extended period. “Fund houses who have not been following a staggering entry and exit policy are going to face extreme liquidity risks in the future, especially the ones focusing on small- and mid-cap space, unless domestic institutional investors strengthen themselves and take advantage of the low valuation that we are witnessing with this market correction," said Anchal Kansal, a research analyst at Green Portfolio, a portfolio management services firm.