Day trading mania sweeps Mumsnet as locked down British parents join in

In some posts, users asked others if they "could do the same thing" as amateur traders on Reddit forum WallStreetBets. "I have some hot tips for you," one said.

Others said they had bought into the stock. "I’m treating it like the Grand National," wrote one user. "If I lose, so be it — if I win, then I’ll have rough to buy a few crates of my favourite champagne."

Many reported their children were also buying shares. One user, picklemewalnuts, wrote: "Bless. It’s nice to see [my son] excited. Last time was probably a Harry Potter film or something!"

Since the start of the year, amateur traders on Reddit forum WallStreetBets helped create a frenzy for GameStop shares, in an attempt to squeeze hedge funds who had placed bets against the stock.

Last week, after many Reddit users piled into the stock, the company’s share price rocketed by more than 300pc, costing one hedge fund who held a short position in GameStop more than $7bn.

GameStop | How the trading frenzy started

There were signs the rally had come to an end yesterday, as GameStop dropped by almost a third, although shares remain more than 1,000pc higher than at the start of the year.

One Mumsnet user told others: "It won’t be over for a wee while if everyone keeps holding". "It’s not over, you can still buy stock," they said. 

Reddit users on WallStreetBets have said the "reckless actions by those on Wall Street" which left families struggling in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis was behind their decision to attack short-sellers, who borrow stock with the expectation its price will fall, selling shares immediately at the higher price, and then buying them back at a lower price to pocket the difference.

Mumsnet founder and chief executive Justine Roberts said: "We’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of posts about GameStop on Mumsnet over the last few days.

"Lots of our users who don’t usually dabble in the stockmarket are enjoying the David and Goliath narrative and the fact the hedge funds are getting a taste of their own medicine. Others, however, who work in finance are a little aghast."