Chapter 107: The price of shares on the Chelf market

The last day of August was a very ordinary day, but not for the many speculators in Krisco, because it was the day the stock exchange reopened.

There were salvos of gunfire in front of the securities company, and many people gathered around the entrance. They all looked up at the display outside the securities company, where the current prices of various stocks and other securities, and even the foreign exchange rate, were shown in numbers. For them, that was the first piece of data for the day. Perhaps most of them still couldn't find any patterns in the numbers, and couldn't really use them to make money, but that was still much better than before.

People still clearly remembered that a week ago, the President of the Republic had personally come to the securities company and, citing the imperfect system of the capital market, demanded that the securities company be shut down for rectification.

However, this is only the official reason. In the Kriesko community, there is a rumour that it is not the case at all, and that the reason the President shut down the securities company was to curb the money laundering activities of some Chinese speculators.

Some people were very surprised by this law: 'How is this possible? Do those Chinese people actually have that much power? We are the only superpower in the world that can rival the United States! That China is only a third-rate country that still needs our assistance. The Chinese people's economic level is there for everyone to see, so how could they have influenced the President's decision?'

Some people do believe in this theory: 'Those Chinese are really something. Look at how successful the Cheung Kei market is now. You can buy everything there that you can't buy anywhere else, even in state-run stores. If the Chinese are capable of that, then they may have manipulated the stock market in ways we can't imagine, which is why the President had to make the decision to shut it down.'

But these are just the usual topics of conversation, which only highlight the importance of securities companies. However, as a concentrated pool of capital, it is simply impossible for a securities company not to be important. This is the same in any country, where the flow of capital is all-powerful.

As for the relationship between securities companies and the Chinese, it is simply because the Cherv Market and the Chinese have been in the spotlight recently, and this has made people involuntarily associate them. More importantly, they were originally connected, so even now, after the securities companies have been closed for such a long time, people still think of the Chinese.

'My Chinese people, please don't cause any trouble now. With so many securities companies closing down, I don't even know what happened to the stocks I bought!'

Someone prayed in their heart. When the time came to 9am, the doors of the securities company opened and officially announced the restart. Those gathered at the door all rushed into the lobby at once, shouting orders to buy and sell stocks of various companies, and even foreign exchange. The entire trading floor suddenly became as noisy as a food market.

After all, this was not yet the information age, computers were still considered high-end items, and trading stocks, at least here in Krisco, could not be done online. There was some telephone trading, but mostly people had to go to the window themselves.

'Look! There are actually stocks from the Cheeloo market here, stocks of those Chinese people!'

Amidst the hubbub, a voice suddenly broke out. The keywords 'Chinese' and 'Chernivtsi Market' immediately caught everyone's attention, and they all turned to look at the big screen. Sure enough, they saw Chernivtsi Market's stock.

'It really is Chernivtsi Market's stock, but why is its price 0.99 new rubles? I remember it was one new ruble per share when it was sold at the entrance to Chernivtsi Market. Is this really Chernivtsi Market's stock? Could there be a mistake?'

Everyone looked at the price of the Cherv Market stock with confusion, but then their confusion turned to surprise as the price changed.

'Look! The price of the Cherv Market stock has gone up, to 1.01 new rubles a share!'

As the stock price changed, there were exclamations of surprise in the trading hall. Everyone looked at the stock price and felt a little annoyed. Although it seemed that the stock price had only risen by 0.02 new rubles, it had risen instantly. To put it simply, if you had bought 10,000 new rubles worth of stock before, in an instant, you would have made 200, which was very profitable speculation.

However, despite this, no one was in a hurry to buy the shares of the Chelf market. Instead, they all chose to wait and see. After all, they were all old stock investors. If they had just bought the shares as soon as they saw them rise, they would have lost all their underwear long ago, and they definitely had to wait and see for the long term.

This prudent way of thinking was actually correct, but the subsequent development of events made them regret it.

'Look! The stock on the Cherepovets market has gone up again! The price rose from 1.02 to 1.04, and now it's 1.10. My God, are those Chinese really crazy? There's no way there's such a stock!'

Watching the numbers on the big screen jump, everyone in the trading hall couldn't calm down, because the trend was clearly rising. If everyone had bought this stock before, they would have made 11% already, which is 1,100 rubles for 10,000 new rubles, and that's just in less than an hour. This is an extraordinary profit that can't be expected!

'Is this for real? Is the stock on the Cherv Market really that popular?'

Some people asked this question, but then someone else said, 'That's a really uneducated question. You should know what kind of place the Chelf Market is. It's the hottest market in our Kriesko right now. I don't know how many people buy things there. If you go there late, you won't even be able to get in. The stocks there aren't as easy to buy as they used to be. Now that they're listed here for sale, of course they're going to rise.'

Someone else said: 'If I had to take a guess, I'd say someone is manipulating the stock price, trying to drive it up. It could be the Chinese themselves. Those people like to do things that flatter them. It's only just started to rise, so if we buy in now, we can make a lot of money!'

Another person said, 'At present, the entire Krisco area only the Cherniv market still recognises the value of the old ruble, which gives their stock the greatest protection. I think the value of Cherniv market stock is much higher than that, and it will definitely continue to rise in the future. It is definitely advantageous to buy now!'

Facing this suddenly emerging stock of Cherniv market, there were discussions in the trading hall. Everyone was very optimistic about the stock of Cherniv market, the only place that still recognises the value of the old ruble.

'The Cherv Market stock has actually gone up again. I've already missed out so much, I can't wait any longer. I'm buying Cherv Market stock, I want 10,000 shares!'

After the Cherv Market stock price had changed again, someone finally couldn't hold back any longer and ran to the counter to buy shares. With this first person, it suddenly made the other people who were originally very hesitant no longer able to wait and one after the other they ran to the counter to start buying shares.

'I want to buy shares in the Chelf market. Give me a 1.15 order. What? The share price has risen to 1.16? Then hurry up and put it through for me, I must get shares in the Chelf market!'

This was the kind of shouting that could be heard in front of the trading services window, with even more people crowding behind, desperately trying to get to the front of the window, especially when they heard that the price had risen again, which made them even more anxious.

As everyone was pushing forward, no one noticed that the first person to buy shares was now quietly pushing his way out of the crowd and out of the securities company. If anyone had paid attention, they would have noticed that this person was not actually a North Russian, but an American named Jim.

Jim walked out of the securities company, where a BMW was parked. He walked over to the car, the window of which was rolled down, revealing the faces of Maita and Davie.

Without waiting for the person inside to ask, Jim reported spontaneously: 'As Mr. Maita instructed, the craze of buying stocks in the Cherv Market has started. Everyone in the trading hall is buying stocks in the Cherv Market. When I came out, the price had already been pushed up to 1.2 new rubles per share.'

Davier nodded gently: 'Very good, Jim. Keep an eye on it inside and make sure the craze continues!'

Jim nodded: 'Please rest assured, Mr. Davier, I will do a good job.'

Davier did not reply again, but just rolled up the window again. Jim left and returned to the securities company. In the car, Davier said, 'Things really turned out as you predicted, Mr. Meta. Just a little guidance was enough to make such a good effect on the Cherv Market stock.'

'Of course. I have long since passed. Now that the Chinese have gained a lot of credibility in running the Chelf market, this is now a normal market reaction.

Mata sighed to himself: 'It's just a pity that this credibility should have brought greater benefits to the Chelf market. If I could, I wouldn't do it. After all, a win-win situation is the best model.'

'But not everyone has the long-term vision of Mr. Meta. The Chinese are short-sighted, and they care a lot about their face and are very arrogant. They think they can do whatever they want just because they are running the Chelf market, and they really think they are God,' said Davier. 'They rejected Mr. Meta's goodwill, so even if they had done well before, they would eventually fail.'

Maita smiled, and glanced at the securities company. 'Actually, I'm curious to see how that Chinese guy, Zhou Ming, will respond.'

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