wrote in message
news
On Sun, 9 May 2010 10:05:08 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

It was a trillion that never really existed in the first place. It was
just phony paper "money" they created out of thin air.


While it wasn't cash, if the stocks are sold (and many are), it would
certainly be real!

A stock price is only valid for the last person to actually exercise
that trade and as sell orders come in prices inevitably drop.
Some of my stop loss orders actually traded lower than the price I set
because the market would not support that price in the free fall after
that bozo screwed up one sell order.


Yes, thus the money is certainly real for those exercising trades. It also
has the effect of making companies vulnerable to pirates, who would take
advantage of low stock prices. Again, very real consequences.