GameStop, short-sellers, Reddit rebels and Wall Street’s wonky plumbing

What was the furore over US retailer GameStop really about? Is silver the next big social media-driven trade? And what does any of this mean for sensible long-term investors? John Stepek tries to unravel the story.

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Hedge funds: hedge funds are the same as normal funds except a) they can use strategies such as shorting that regulators consider too risky for “retail” investors and b) they charge a lot more. Their mystique is pure branding – like most actively run funds, they struggle to beat the market long term.

YOLO: You Only Live Once, with the implication being, why not take a big bet on a high-risk stock? Needless to say, some unfortunate investors will be learning the answer to that the hard way.

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John Stepek
Former editor, MoneyWeek