Knight Capital Loses $440m In 45 Minutes Due To 'Computer Glitch'

Traders Lose $440m In 45 Minutes Due To 'Computer Glitch'

A trading firm has lost $440m in under an hour after a software problem.

That's $10m a minute.

Knight Capital Group said that the problem on Wednesday morning was caused when a computer glitch bought and sold stocks by accident.

According to the New York Times, the firm's computers were using new trading software that malfunctioned, and over a period of 45 minutes was out of control, buying and selling stocks in over 100 companies.

Knight made the loss when it had to sell the stocks back at a greatly reduced price.

The firm, which is now facing bankruptcy, said the mistake cost it more money than the total revenue it brought in over the last quarter.

It said it is now "actively pursuing its strategic and financing alternatives".

Shares in the company fell 63% of Thursday, to just $2.58 a share.

However it said that none of its customers were affected directly by the bad trades.

The mistake will raise fears over the potential chaos that can be unleashed by automated trades and computerised markets.

Knight Capital now has "48 hours to save itself" analysts say, before it collapses completely.

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