Money Talks So Make Sure You Spell It Right

I couldn't tell if the business channel was calling it a 'bad finger' error or a 'fat finger' error, but as far as we know, the frenzy in the markets today was caused by someone at an unnamed firm hitting a B instead of an M on their keyboard when issuing a 'sell' order.
That little typo triggered countless automated margin calls, and the damage compounded like interest on a Christmas club bond.
CNBC Closing Bell anchor Maria Bartiroma, big 'free market' proponent, after choking back the word regulation for more than half an hour, finally choked out 'where are the regulators', before collapsing into sputtering hysteria.
The final few minutes of the Closing Bell left all the commentators echoing variations of 'How did this happen?' in disbelief.
Everyone latched onto the idea that the financial chaos was caused by a typo. Maybe it was, but it could have been caused by terrorists just as easily.
Nancy Sherer