MF Global filed for bankruptcy in October 2011. It was reported that there was a huge drop in confidence in the company because of large losses from European public debt holdings. In American history, MF Global had the eighth largest bankruptcy. It has been in the news recently that there is an alleged shortfall in the customer funds from MF Global.

MF Global went bankrupt six months ago and there still remains a $1.6 billion shortfall in funds returned to its investors. There is a lack of information about precisely why such a large organisation should file for bankruptcy but many feel that the cause was structural rather than the actions of individual rogue traders. Following a review of the accounts James Giddens, the bankruptcy trustee, said that the, "company's computer system and employees had trouble keeping up, a number of transactions were recorded erroneously or not at all."

A criminal prosecution seems unlikely at present, however civil cases may be made against the company. Calls for an independent counsel to investigate the case have been made that could see the investigation taken from the Justice Department and passed on to another body