What is WallStreetBets and which companies has it helped on the stock market?
A BATTLE between amateur traders and hedge funds has rattled the stock markets in the United States, Europe and Asia.
WallStreetBets, a Reddit group with more than four million members, has been driving up share prices by betting against Wall Street short-sellers.
The Wall Street trolls are pushing up share prices by betting against Wall Street short-sellers.
Short-sellers, despised by many, are big that bet on a decline by selling borrowed shares in the hope of repaying at a lower price.
The influx in purchases has been putting pressure on short sellers to make purchases to avoid steeper losses.
Reddit said it had not been contacted by authorities over the surges.
"It's a good reminder, though, that the stock market isn't the only measure of the health of our economy."
She said in a statement: "For years, the same hedge funds, private equity firms, and wealthy investors dismayed by the GameStop trades have treated the stock market like their own personal casino while everyone else pays the price.
"It's long past time for the SEC and other financial regulators to wake up and do their jobs."
"Roaring Kitty" - whose real name has not been revealed - offers tips on how to hunt stocks and pounce on investment opportunities.
According to , "Roaring Kitty" paid around $56,000 to build a stake of 50,000 shares, which are now worth $16 million.
GameStop isn't the only company being targeted by the Wall Street trollers.
Stock skyrocketed for other companies that had been heavily shorted by Wall Street firms as well.
AMC Entertainment's shares jumped a whopping 300 percent on Wednesday, January 27, and BlackBerry's were up 33 percent.
Wall Street experts warn, however, that the skyrocketing stock prices will not likely last long, as they do not reflect the health of the businesses.
Hedge funds Citron and Melvin Capitol said they had closed out their short positions after suffering undisclosed losses.
Experts speculate those could be in the billions.
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Heavily shorted Australian stocks Webjet, Tassal Group, Inghams Group Ltd and InvoCare all climbed on Thursday, while Sydney's benchmark ASX 200 index fell 2 percent.
British publisher Pearson, drugmaker Evotec and commercial property firm Unibail-Rodamco, all big gainers in the past week, dipped in early deals.