As part of our Minerva Lecture Programme, Mike Chaplin, from King Street Capital Management delivered an engaging and insightful lecture on the world of financial market trading, offering students a fascinating glimpse into his day to day life as a trader.
The session was highly interactive, with students asking thoughtful questions particularly about the growing role of AI in financial markets and how it is shaping trading strategies.
Mike’s Minerva lecture gave a rare, “behind-the-scenes” look at the intense world of financial trading. Instead of sticking to textbook theories, Mike focused on what it’s actually like on the trading floor, combining a deep look at the human mindset with practical market tips.
Drawing on real world examples, Mike provided practical advice on investment and long term thinking. One example that particularly captured pupils’ attention was the comparison between investing £1,000 in Apple 20 years ago now worth £108,280 versus the far smaller return of £1,810 from the FTSE over the same period. He also explored the performance of Netflix stocks before and after Covid, illustrating how global events can dramatically influence market behaviour.
The lecture was both informative and inspiring, giving our students valuable insight into financial markets while sparking curiosity about future careers in trading and investment.
