This week has given rise to a host of extremely odious arguments from non-finance specialists, media people, and regulators. People who do not think and therefore, per Descartes, should not exist. I here use my soapbox to share thoughts with my readers who deserve better.

Robots.

People have raised the specter of HFT/algo trading to explain the volatility. You cannot prove a negative, but you can show that it is not a sufficient condition and by extension probably not a necessary condition.

Short-sellers.

Euro governments have started banning short-selling again. Won’t be long before it happens in the US in my estimation.

Number one reflex action of unthinking people; treat the symptom and not the cause. Ask any doctor; the disease gets worse. Believe it or not, symptoms are part of the healing process – they tell you where you need to pay attention most, and they are the ...