Stopping a Wall Street "flash crash"

Post date: Feb 18, 2011 5:59:58 PM

A panel of experts releases its recommendations to U.S. regulators on how to prevent another "flash crash" like the one that happened May 6, 2010.

USA-FLASH CRASH REPORT - May 6, 2010 - Wall Street suffered a dizzying drop in minutes, commonly referred to as the "flash crash", and regulators still don't have a definitive answer on what happened.

Fast forward nine months - a panel of experts say they have some ideas on how to prevent another one.

Suggestions include stemming the growing tide of anonymous stock trading, known as dark pools, and charging fees to high-frequency traders who make extremely large trades that can sway the market.

The 14 recommendations presented to U.S. regulators in a report would significantly overhaul the high-speed trading market that has almost gone completely electronic in the last decade.But some market players doubt regulators can prevent another flash crash - they say new market technology can cause a stampede when fear drives investors to run for the exit.

Conway Gittens, Reuters