People who buy or invest in something hoping to make a profit from changes in price, rather than to use it themselves.
From Latin speculari (to spy out or observe), from specula (watchtower), combined with -ator (one who does). The meaning evolved from 'observers' to 'people who observe markets for profit opportunities.'
Speculators get blamed during financial crashes, but they actually provide 'liquidity' to markets—they buy and sell constantly, which makes it easier for regular people to buy and sell too; they're like the oil that lets the engine of capitalism run.
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