Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Profit and Loss

Episode 2 of 3

Eight ordinary people are given a million dollars each to run a hedge fund. The novice traders struggle to ride the storm as the world's stock markets go haywire.

Eight ordinary people are given a million dollars, a fortnight of intensive training and two months to run their own hedge fund. Can they make a killing?

The experiment reveals the inner workings of a City trading floor. The money is supplied by hedge fund manager Lex van Dam: he wants to see if ordinary people can beat the professionals, and he expects a return on his investment too. Yet no-one foresees the financial crisis that lies ahead.

The traders were selected in spring 2008, before the US credit crisis gathered pace. The successful candidates were chosen, trained and dispatched to their specially created trading room in the heart of the Square Mile. Among them are an environmentalist, a soldier, a boxing promoter, an entrepreneur, a retired IT consultant, a vet, a student and a shopkeeper.

The eight novice city traders struggle to ride the storm as stock markets around the world go haywire. Some of them take big risks, and others lose their nerve in spectacular fashion.

Part of the City Season.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 9 Mar 2009 02:55

Credits

Role Contributor
Director Anthony Philipson
Producer Anthony Philipson

Broadcasts