Season 3 Episode 1-5
Episode 1 Season 3 "Enter the Bears"
The 3rd season opener gives a behind-the-scenes look at the New York and Chicago financial districts just as the credit crunch begins to unfold. Fearing a deep recession, sibling stock brokers, Phil & Ken, argue over how best to protect their client's money. Doug, a floor trader on Chicago's famous outcry pits, shows what it takes to be a survivor in the cut-throat environment. Meanwhile, Kristi, CEO of a new online trading firm, Think or Swim, stresses out trying to meet a major filing deadline while Rich, the Hedge Fund guy, tries to profit from the growing oil bubble.
Episode 2 Season 3 "The Fear Gauge"
We meet Philip's wife and kids as he prepares for his morning commute to Wall Street. The markets are in turmoil but he's got to help feed the kids while contemplating his stock positions.
In the Chicago outcry pits, Ben discusses how trading volatility (VIX) is a unique way to make money. Known as "the fear gauge," volatility gives Ben a unique perspective on the pulse of the market. And moments later, almost as an example, Ben gets in a screaming match with another trader.
Next, Rich has lunch at the famous Tavern on the Green with a beautiful Russian investment banker, Natalia. They both have ulterior motives for the meeting. Natalia tries to convince Rich to bring in his investors into a Russian oil deal while Rich tries to get her to share her wealthy contacts in Arabia.
Tony, the options trader, goes back to visit his colleagues at the CBOE (Chicago Board Options Exchange). He discusses how trading evolved from open outcry to electronic and shows us how he now trades at the world famous "trading wall" that looks more like a NASA control room.
Later, we find out Phil and Ken have been having problems keeping their office assistants. The last one couldn't take the stress and quit in tears. So, today, they have a new interviewee, Beth. She's an artist, and out of place on Wall Street, but Ken sees something in her and wants to hire her. Phil thinks it's a bad idea.
Episode 3 Season 3 "The Strangle"
"The Strangle"
In the chaos of the Chicago trading pits, Doug screams out orders to his clerks and shows how hand signals are used to communicate across the crowd. In New York, Beth starts her first day with Phil and Ken and is quickly overwhelmed by the amount of work they throw at her. Meanwhile, Kristi and her crew need to bring new critical software on-line today, but it's still not functioning properly and tempers start to flair. Later, Doug travels home to the suburbs to throw a birthday party for his kids.
Episode 4 Season 3 "Volatile, Volatility"
In a hunt for new clients, Phil and Ken travel to Miami and try to court a wealthy football player. Meanwhile, Tony takes a group of novice traders to Chicago’s open outcry pits and sets up a heated trading competition with his arch rival “Q”. Rich Tag is at his Hamptons estate trying to figure out how to profit from the oil bubble. He has drinks with two energy analyst who give him advice on how to play the oil markets. Later, Phil and Ken check out Miami’s real-estate and argue over opening a second branch of their firm in South Beach.
Episode 5 Season 3 "Options, Options"
The stock brokers, Phil and Ken, are still in Miami trying to salvage their trip by pitching to two wealthy Florida lawyers. They aren't an easy sell and Phil has to turn on the charm to win them over.
In New York, we meet a new start up hedge fund manager, Ron, who is anxiously pitching Rich his fund. Rich isn't impressed by Ron's flat numbers but will give him money if the numbers improve.
On the Chicago trading floors, Doug discusses how, as the son of steel workers, he ended up in the financial markets.
Picking up from the competition in Episode 4, Tony and his team now trade real money and hope to beat his rival "Q" as the highest earners of the day. Stress peaks as the market closes and all await the final numbers. Tony is overjoyed to find Q turns out to be dead last.
Later, Ken's wife flies to Miami to see the house her husband bought her. She's not exactly happy that he made such a big decision without asking her. Ken nervously shows her the new house. She loves it but starts arguing about how difficult moving her whole life down to Miami is going to be.
