The stock market grows because companies create value for real consumers. Companies serving the people. But the stock market and its derivative markets are jus

The stock market grows because companies create value for real consumers. Companies serving the people. But the stock market and its derivative markets are just people speculating on the price of the stock. So the vast majority of the value is a zero sum game. Think of it like the "use value" of a house, vs a housing speculative bubble on top. They can pump, they can dump.