Well, it's like this. I opened up that short email yesterday. This morning, hours before market open, I replied to IB, told them to NOT cover the short, I will work out the problem before the close.
and then I went away for several hours. I come back at 11:30 EST and IB has covered the short and sold 1/2 dozen stocks with ridiculous spreads that haven't traded for weeks or months to cover the cost.
took it right up the poop shoot
With a hundred or so stocks to choose from, you'd think they'd at least dump crap that has traded today.