logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2021
18m 34s

High risk investing

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Why has it become so popular for millions of young people? Has the failure of conventional nest-eggs, rising student debt and high property prices forced twenty-somethings into an ever riskier outlook - and what's the pandemic got to do with it? Nachiket Tikekar, a 23 year old student of business, tells Ed Butler why he decided to stick all his spare money into stocks and shares and why he's not scared of the markets crashing. This has all been made possible by the rise of low-cost online trading platforms like The Zerodha, which is India's biggest. Somnath Mukherjee runs its business and legal operations. Ed also speaks to Sarah Pritchard, the executive director of markets at the UK's Financial Conduct Authority who are trying target these risk adverse investors with warnings through new platforms such as TikTok. And Lesley-Ann Morgan has led a global study looking at investment trends, including for younger people, across more than 20 countries for Schroders Wealth management. She says thousands of young people have been saving as a result of forced lockdowns, and are feeling more inclined to ignore traditional investment strategies. (Picture of a young investor. Picture Credit: Getty Images).

Up next
Jul 30
Taking stock: China gains in the AI race
Is China rapidly catching up with the United States in the race to dominate artificial intelligence? Rahul Tandon is joined by Walter Todd in the US and Rebecca Choong Wilkins in Singapore to discuss, following a week of sharp moves in AI-related markets and growing questions ove ... Show More
24m 19s
Apr 2026
Headspace: from mindfulness app to military partner
Headspace started life as a mindfulness app. Now it's partnering with the US Navy and investing in artificial intelligence for mental health support.The company's CEO Tom Pickett speaks to us about therapy, the increasing role of technology, and tackling burnout at scale.If you'd ... Show More
17m 28s
Apr 2026
Anthropic: the $300bn AI firm at war with the White House
Anthropic’s rise from startup to one of the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence has been staggering, but so in recent weeks has been its row with the US Government.Today, we look at that journey to becoming a 380 billion dollar company, ask why Claude has become on ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2021
Beyond GameStop: the day trader turned investor
Young investors have rushed to open day trading accounts under lockdown, using tips gleaned from chat rooms and social media as they attempt to make a fast buck. But betting on short-term market movements carries a high risk of losing money — something that 19-year-old Ross has f ... Show More
22m 51s
Jun 2023
Money Box Live: Investing
The Financial Conduct Authority is concerned that young people in particular are turning to bloggers and influencers for investing advice - without fully understanding the risks. Scammers are also using social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok to target ... Show More
30m 26s
Aug 2022
The rise of the ‘F@$K It’ investor
<p>Since the 2008 financial crisis, it’s become more and more difficult for Americans to chart a path toward financial security. Things like buying a house and paying off student loans have become more challenging for young people to do. And that’s given rise to a new generation ... Show More
20m 3s
Aug 2025
Deep Dive: 3 Stocks Betting Everything on Crypto Treasuries
Crypto treasury companies are suddenly one of the hottest trends on Wall Street. We explain how Michael Saylor and MicroStrategy created the model and why new players like BitMine, ETHZilla, and Upexi are rushing to copy it. The strategy has sent stocks soaring but it comes with ... Show More
14m 59s
Jun 2021
Boom, Bust & Mania 
What do tulip bulbs and cryptocurrencies have in common? Today’s episode proves that amateurs are at the highest risk for losing big when an asset is in a bubble.  You need only look at our crazes in modern times like the tech stock bubble of the early 2,000s, the sub-prime crisi ... Show More
38m 23s
Feb 2021
Decentralized Finance:  The Future of Currencies 
Today, people of all ages—young and old—are in trouble because their ideas about money aren't just old, they're obsolete. With bonds and interest rates at historic lows, residential real estate growing at its fastest pace in 6 years, stock markets at all-time highs, there’s reall ... Show More
41m 6s