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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

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More or Less: How to lose money - fast

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How to lose money - fast

11/08/2012

BBC World Service - More or Less, How to lose money - fast

Is the rapid growth of high frequency trading progress or a threat to the financial system

Is the rapid growth of high frequency trading progress, or – as some think – a threat to the stability of the entire financial system?

Last week Knight Capital lost a lot of money very quickly. 

It was the latest chapter in the story of something called 'high frequency trading'. 

Investors have always valued being the first with the news. 

But high frequency trading is different - algorithms execute automatic trades, conducted by computers, at astonishing speeds. 

We ask - is the rapid growth of high frequency trading progress, or – as some think – a threat to the stability of the entire financial system?

(Image: $100 bills. Credit: AFP PHOTO/Karen BLEIER)

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