Trading is becoming more and more popular with each month. It seems that at least a couple of new people are brought into the world of trading almost every week. But why, all of a sudden, is trading becoming so popular?
Popularization of Trading
Well, one major reason for the popularity of trading is that it has become a lot easier to trade in the past 25 years. The reason for this can be traced to the opening of a number of discount brokerages, which offer the same deals as standard brokerages, at much more affordable prices.
Another reason, is that online trading platforms are much more popular, safer to use and easily accessible than they ever have been. Websites like the one here can help you buy Ethereum in the UK, and on top of that offers tips, tutorials and deals which help even newbies make better decisions when putting down investments. On top of that, they employ state of the art technology to keep data safe, meaning your information will always remain safe, should you choose to join up with one of these websites.
Trading in Pop Culture
Another reason for the popularization of trading in 2022, might be the fact that so many films have been released, depicting the life of stock brokers. If not that, then simply films centered on trading. Some of these films serve to satirize the life of a trader. Some serve to celebrate it. And some just exist to accurately depict the business, all the while telling an engrossing story.
Often times, these films hide some nuggets of truth, which if one were to take into account, could lead to making better decisions in your own trading. So, in this article, we are going to take a look at a few films that every trader should see at least once.
Wall Street (1987)
Starting off our list, we have the most iconic “wall street” film ever made. Simply titled Wall Street, the 1987 Oliver Stone classic sees Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen and Daryl Hannah in what might just be their most iconic film roles of all time.
The film tells the story of an up-and-coming stockbroker, Bud Fox (played by Charlie Sheen), whose goal it is to work with his business hero, Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas). When Fox shows up, uninvited, to Gekko’s birthday, the experienced businessman sees something in the young buck. From there, the film’s story unfolds masterfully, with a certain degree of accuracy in portraying the 80s era stock market.
Oliver Stone made the film as a sort of tribute to his father, who worked as a Wall Street broker during one of the hardest periods for the industry, and the country in general, the Great Depression. It is, perhaps, this personal connection to the business that makes the film so authentic, memorable and worth watching.
The Big Short (2015)
We jump from the serious drama of the 80s, to the tongue-in-cheek, scathing parody of the mid-2010s. The Big Short, directed by Adam McKay, is a comedic take on a very serious event in the history of the stock market. The 2008 Housing Market Crash, which left many homeless, unemployed, and the consequences of which we are still dealing with to this day.
The film’s major thesis is that all of it could have been avoided, however, the story is told in a tongue-in-cheek, comedic way, with a ton of celebrity cameos and masterful performances from the main cast, which consists of Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt.
The film is a must watch, not just for up-and-coming traders and investors, but anyone with even the vaguest interest in stock market trading, or the history behind the 2008 Housing Crash. Definitely one worth adding to your watch list.
Rogue Trader (1999)
And now, for something a little different. Rogue Trader is a British film, written and directed by James Dearden. It is the story of a famous / infamous derivatives broker, Nick Leeson whose actions led to the 1995 Baring Bank collapse.
The film stars Ewan McGregor in the main role as Nick Leeson, who starts out the movie as a bright-eyed employee in Baring Banks, England’s oldest merchant bank. He rises through the ranks, working diligently in the Indonesian branch of the company, before being moved to Singapore. It is here that the downward spiral begins, as Leeson begins making unauthorized and fraudulent trades, which ends up tanking the entire company and landing him in prison.
The film does a very good job of depicting the events as they happened, never sugar coating the actions of anyone involved. It serves as a cautionary tale and depicts the downsides of trading and investing. It is an excellent film that any up-and-coming investor should watch once.
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