Was it the computers or the humans? The blame game is on for the wild stock market rout of Monday, Feb. 5, when the Dow Jones industrial average plunged 1,175 points before climbing part of the way back the following day. Some likely suspects: hyperspeed algorithmic trading and a Wall Street stew of complex products that bet on volatility. Another: a record amount of money that has poured into stock funds recently from individuals. Maybe their late arrival-years into a bull market-finally pushed stocks up too high.
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