12 October, 2008

Crisis: Suspend the markets?


It is reported that the White House has rejected suggestions by Silvio Berlusconi that the markets should be suspended for a day or two around a holiday in order to let them breathe.


Berlusconi is not a fool and this is a suggestion which has some merit. It has occasionally been the case that action by central banks has jarred the market into imagining things are even worse than they thought and so has a negative impact. At a time when the authorities are taking action I would certainly advocate closing the markets say Friday and Monday. It would not deprive traders of some God-given right to deal: there has been plenty of news about the crisis and plenty of occasions to sell. These are difficult times and a calming measure would be the right thing.

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