Flash Crash 2010
On May 6, 2010, the Dow Jones plunged nearly 1,000 points in minutes — losing and then recovering 9% in under an hour. High-frequency trading algorithms triggered a cascade of automatic sell orders that overwhelmed market makers.
Was This Written in the Numbers?
Universal Year 3 amplifies expression and optimism — sometimes to dangerous excess. Bubbles and manias often peak in 3 years because the collective mood favors expansion and storytelling over sober analysis.
What the Numbers Said
The SEC investigated and attributed the crash partly to a large E-mini S&P 500 futures trade. New circuit breakers were introduced for individual stocks. HFT became a major regulatory focus.
Markets built on algorithms can malfunction faster than humans can intervene. Speed without safeguards is a systemic risk in itself.