WAEC SSCE Commerce
Study notes for D. CAPITAL MARKET — part of the WAEC SSCE Commerce syllabus. 1 learning objectives with explanations and exam tips.
Speculators are investors who buy and sell securities hoping to make quick profits from price changes rather than earning long-term returns. They take risks by predicting market movements. If they think a share price will rise, they buy hoping to sell higher later. If they expect prices to fall, they might sell quickly to avoid losses.
There are two main types: bull speculators who bet on rising prices, and bear speculators who bet on falling prices. Think of someone buying shares in a Nigerian bank like GTBank when news suggests good earnings are coming, then selling immediately after the price jumps. That's speculation in action.
Speculators add liquidity to the stock market, making it easier to buy and sell securities. However, they increase market volatility and risk. The Nigerian Stock Exchange sees speculative activity especially during market booms.