To the Point
Knight Capital and High Speed Trading on Wall Street
The latest Wall Street chaos reveals how computerized algorithms control financial markets. What's their role in retail customer service and choosing the next music star?
By Warren Olney • • 51m ListenThe latest incident of chaos on Wall Street reveals how computerized algorithms control the financial markets. What's their role in retail customer service -- and choosing the next pop music star? Also, the deadly attack American Sikhs have feared since September 11, and Curiosity makes history on Mars.
In this episode
3 storiesShooter Kills Six at Sikh Temple in Oak Creek
Police are searching for a "person of interest" in the killing of six people yesterday at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The principal suspect was killed at the scene by police. Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards identified Wade Michael Page as a 40 year-old with a general discharge form the Army, who was ineligible for re-enlistment.
Read the story15 minAlgorithms on Wall Street and in the Rest of Our Lives
Knight Capital is a so-called "market maker," using high-speed computers to keep Wall Street fair and orderly. Last week it created chaos instead. It's the latest in a series of computer malfunctions that are giving some investors the jitters by trading stocks faster than the human brain can function.
Read the story26 min'Curiosity' Lands Safely on the Red Planet
NASA's rover Curiosity survived " seven minutes of terror " last night to begin one of the most ambitious missions to another planet in human history. After Curiosity landed last night, it took 14 minutes for the message to arrive in the control room at the JPL in Pasadena, where it was greeted with cheers and elation.
Read the story11 min
