Interactive Brokers Loses $48M on NYSE Glitch

Interactive Brokers has reported a $48 million loss caused by a technical glitch at the New York Stock Exchange on June 3, which led to a dramatic but brief plunge in the price of Berkshire Hathaway’s Class A shares from $622,000 to $185. The glitch prompted a trading halt, during which many clients placed buy orders, expecting to capitalize on the low price. When trading resumed, the shares soared to nearly $742,000, and many orders were filled at various high prices. Interactive Brokers filed a clearly erroneous execution petition to void these trades, but it was denied by the NYSE and other U.S. exchanges. The firm is considering legal action to recover the losses, although it states that the financial impact will not be material. The NYSE has declined to comment on the situation.