Trading Places Ending Explained: Buy High, Sell Low ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Trading Places is a satirical comedy highlighting the absurdities of the financial world. The film follows the story of two wealthy commodity traders who make a bet to swap the lives of a successful businessman and a street hustler to test the nature versus nurture debate. Through a series of comedic events, the protagonists orchestrate a scheme involving frozen orange juice futures to take down the corrupt traders who framed them.