They are hedging their bets - they are seeing which side is going to win - purely driven from a sense of desperation.

他们在保护他们的赌注，他们仅仅是在用一种绝望的心理来猜测哪一方将会获胜。

youdao

Across Tunisia, somehow inspired by the story of Bouazizi or driven to desperation by the continued lack of economic opportunity, there are still cases of people pouring petrol over themselves and suffering the consequences.

BBC: Tunisia one year on: New trend of self-immolations

This mad dash for cash is driven by fear and investor desperation to preserve their money rather than make any.

FORBES: Gold Stocks Look Like Diamonds In The Rough With Metal Making New Highs, Stocks Slumping

All of which, experts say, has led to more corporate spinoffs driven more by desperation for quick profit than by long-term fundamentals.

FORBES: Be Wary Of Cendant's Descendants