This. Today's stock market bears little relation to "a thing where you can buy shares of a company, and if it does well you can get paid by selling it."
That's what it says in the textbook, but you are woefully misinformed if you believe that this strongly matches reality, especially for individuals and smaller players in this thing.
and yet every time it is actually prosecuted in court (not settled or plea dealed) the distinction blurs because the difference between something legal and illegal can’t be found
> This. Today's stock market bears little relation to "a thing where you can buy shares of a company, and if it does well you can get paid by selling it."
So speculation? Seems like that is the primary way it works today. Also, dividends represent a major source of market returns. Some searching suggests as much as 30%.
