AP Explains: How suspected bus bomber hoped to make millions
LONDON — As get-rich-quick plans go, it wasn’t well thought out.
The man accused of bombing the bus carrying the Borussia Dortmund soccer team allegedly hoped to make millions off an expected slump in the team’s share price by using an obscure financial trade, a “put option.”
These trades are typically used by professional traders at banks or investment firms, suggesting the bomber had some experience with financial markets. The average person who wanted to make money off a dropping share price would more likely have taken out a bet on one of innumerable gambling websites or used a day-trading website.
“It indicates someone with a bit more financial awareness than your average person,” said Chris Beauchamp, senior market analyst at IG Group in London.