BBC2. 9pm. Million Dollar Traders

lcharm

I am a fan actually as it is good viewing.

Everyone knows that this isn't real city trading but the BBC's definition of the show is this:

Eight ordinary people are given a million dollars and a fortnight of intensive training to run their own hedge fund. Hedge fund manager Lex van Dam wants to see if they can beat the professionals

Yes it's not a proper insight but it is an insight nontheless.

I mean the guys not messing about if he's putting £1M of his own cash into this, although it is obvious that he wants the publicity too, god knows what for?

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion.

nobblyned

The beeb also says:

"Part of the city season. The experiment reveals the inner workings of a City trading floor."

My gripe was that it is essentially just a character driven reality style show, which reveals very little about what actually goes on in the city.

Apologies if you thought I was having a go at you personally! Wouldn't worry, my opinion seems to be in the minority!

The guy is actually risking very little of his £1M, halfway in and they are £20k down I think. As they are un-leveraged the risk in a normal market to his capital would be quite small. That said, the volatility at the time has probably seen him risking a little more than he thought!

lcharm

My gripe was that it is essentially just a character driven reality style show, which reveals very little about what actually goes on in the city.

I agree with you there!! But that's what makes it good viewing!!

Thrugelmir

nobblyned wrote: »

The beeb also says:

"Part of the city season. The experiment reveals the inner workings of a City trading floor."

My gripe was that it is essentially just a character driven reality style show, which reveals very little about what actually goes on in the city.

Apologies if you thought I was having a go at you personally! Wouldn't worry, my opinion seems to be in the minority!

The guy is actually risking very little of his £1M, halfway in and they are £20k down I think. As they are un-leveraged the risk in a normal market to his capital would be quite small. That said, the volatility at the time has probably seen him risking a little more than he thought!

May be the pro's are hedging the amateurs' deals if they don't like the positions being taken.

The risk of losing the whole $1 million is quiet low. They are not being allowed to trade contract options which professional traders would be dealing in.

PasturesNew

lcharm wrote: »

Anyone still watching this? I watched last weeks one today and it's looking really interesting now. Can't wait for tonights one!

I never know what's on or when. I miss stuff. But if I find out I missed stuff I then watch it online

I've seen the first two I think. Certainly the first one - and I think the next one I saw was the 2nd one (old duffer got booted).

PasturesNew

nobblyned wrote: »

...halfway in and they are £20k down I think.

The time cost, cost to employ the supervisor, IT/systems/accounts cost, rent on the space costs ... are probably a lot more than that.

The hidden cost of doing anything.