Ok, rant time.

This is how the market is SUPPOSED to work: Demand high, supply low. Suppliers rush in to increase supply with the incentive of profit. Eventually, supply increases and profits become razor thin. Consumers (average folk) win.

BUT, there are certain sectors where monopolies/oligopolies form naturally. Not necessarily because companies are evil, but because it's simply economically more efficient to do so. Rail being the best example. Why would another rail company build a parallel track to an already existing freight corridor that connects 2 companies?

Banks require to pass through a lot of financial regulation (as they should). Hence, oligopolies form naturally. Same with telecom.

NOW. Let's look at our utopic market again. Profits should be high where supply hasn't met demand. NOT where supply and demand are the same. This is very good for those owning the companies (capitalists), but not good for the consumers (us). In our ideal market, this profit reduction happens due to competition. However, we have established that some sectors naturally are prone to less competition.

Banks posting record profits (when banking isn't exactly a sector that requires crazy investment to meet allegedly crazy increasing demand) is bad for the average person. Same with companies that are in sectors where not much investment is needed. Groceries being an example.

So what do we do to reduce profits in such sectors so that a handful of people aren't ripping us off? Here's my opinion:

The state should force oligopolies/monopolies to become consumer cooepratives. If this is too politically infeasible, then raise capital, start a state owned corp and immediately shift the operations to a consumer cooperative (of which every citizen is a member by default).

So TLDR: The stock market booming isn't always a good thing. Sure, actually innovative corps posting record profits (from the new stuff they've worked on) can be a good thing. BUT, boring ass corps which aren't exactly innovating posting increasing profits means that the consumer (us) is getting ripped off.