Incredibly stupid TV blunders on DOW value

wombat42_2

Yesterday the DOW was closed because of Thanksgiving Day. The DOW was down 211.10 on the previous day. But bizarely Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight BBC2 still presented it as a change that took place yesterday. He said "the FTSE is up 80 points but the DOW is down 211 because of further credit crunch worries" !!!! The same mistake was made on Radio 4 news !!!

Old_Slaphead

Maybe a junior member of staff compiled the report - it's therefore his/her fault!!

wombat42_2

I think this error happens every time the DOW is closed for the day. I remember it happening previously. Also odd that Jeremy Paxman didnt realise the error.

PBA

Arguably correct information though, as the DJIA was down 211 in the most recent day's trading. They may have already mentionned Thanksgiving earlier in the programme so didn't feel the need to repeat that fact.

To be pedantic, it's the NYSE that was closed, the DJIA is an index...

free4440273

Yeah, it seems to happen every time the American market is closed. Shows how little attention the presenters/researchers really pay to the markets. On the other hand, it was a mistake...and it was Gavin Esler yesterday

purch

I think the biggest thing you should be worried about is that it closed on Wednesday below 12,850 and if it closes below there again it could mean big trouble technically.

wombat42_2

You would expect Jeremy Paxman etc to be a clued up geezer - I mean its his job to be clued up.

I remember ITV making the same mistake once as well.

Biggles

Not 'arguably correct', PBA, as he starts off with "Today's markets" or similar, and it wasn't; and in any event he'd already reported that fall the previous night!

He does this nearly every time there's a US hol, he glosses over the market reports so briefly, it's hardly worthwhile having that section in the programme. He obviously has no idea of stock markets, whatever his other knowledge, and doesn't seem to give a toss about the figures.

Obviously someone else puts up the graphics and the figures, but I would have expected Paxman to have picked up on it before now.

Mr_Mumble

biased-bbc say Radio 4 did the same thing. :doh:

PBA wrote: »

To be pedantic, it's the NYSE that was closed, the DJIA is an index...

To be even more pedantic the DJIA is not an index and components include those traded on the Nasdaq, also closed.

wombat42_2

I have just emailed Newsnight. Theoretically someone might have made a critically important investment decision based on this false information and the BBC may theoretically be sued for any losses. If you think about it, it is appaling as it is completely incorrect info. Maybe I will email points of view as well.

Biggles

wombat42 wrote: »

I have just emailed Newsnight. Theoretically someone might have made a critically important investment decision based on this false information and the BBC may theoretically be sued for any losses. If you think about it, it is appaling as it is completely incorrect info. Maybe I will email points of view as well.

I have done that in the past, with no response. But maybe this time they'll work out what we're on about....