Ban on speculators who could break the banks

And it's about time!!
I really do think these people should be made to shore up the banks they've put out of buisness not the tax payer. It's times like these I can see the point of some of the old boys I used to do home care for who would keep their money under the mattress {or old bisto tin in the cistern once }

"Shorting" is actually a fairly naughty way of making money, but it is a well established financial instrument.

It is interesting how the government has now taken to underwriting banks...and this is a fairly unwelcome approach in my opinion. However, governments supporting ailing industries is something that has been going on for a very long time...with the "national" airlines being a prime example of this a few years back.

Personally, I'd rather see companies that are unable to compete go out of business and be replaced by ones that have the acumen to succeed.