Regulators in three countries are investigating the possibility that terrorists may have used advance knowledge of last week's attacks in New York and Washington to plan stock investments in three reinsurers, news organizations in the United States and Britain reported.
Both the Associated Press and BBC World News said the inquiries concern whether Osama bin Laden or some of his supporters tried to profit by short-selling the stock--anticipating the effects of losses brought on by destruction from the crashes of hijacked jetliners.
Both news groups reported that Germany's federal securities regulator, BaWe, was doing an examination. BBC said Japan and the United States are investigating as well.
By short-selling, investors profit when there is a decline in the value of securities.
