Rogue Trader (1999) - The Movie

This movie is a must for all traders. It's basic message is this: no matter who you are and no matter how much you know, do not f**k with the market. Another key view that comes across is that it is erroneous to assume that the big institutions know everything. Of course, in the face of the 2008 subprime and financial crisis, this message may not have as much impact, but in 1999, when this movie was released, it would have been apt. Although we have moved on to bigger cycles, for those who are starting out as traders, this is a must-watch movie.

Rogue Trader is a 1999 drama film directed by James Dearden about Nick Leeson and the 1995 collapse of Barings Bank. Based on Leeson's book of the same name it stars Ewan McGregor and Anna Friel.

Rogue Trader tells the true story of Nick Leeson, an employee of Barings Bank who after a successful spell working for the firm's office in Indonesia is sent to Singapore as General Manager of the Trading Floor on the SIMEX exchange. The movie follows Leeson's rise as he soon becomes one of Barings' key traders. However, everything isn't as it appears - through the 88888 error account, Nick is hiding huge losses as he gambles away Baring's money with little more than the bat of an eyelid from the powers-that-be back in London.

Eventually the losses mount up to well over £800 million and Nick, along with his wife Lisa, decide to leave Singapore and escape to Indonesia. Nick doesn't realise the severity of his losses until he reads in the newspaper that Barings has gone bankrupt. They then decide to return to London but Nick is arrested en route in Frankfurt. Nick is extradited to Singapore where he is sentenced to six and a half years in jail (but stays in jail for four years, because he was diagnosed with colon cancer). The film is based on Leeson's real life book, Rogue Trader.

Download the torrent here.