Its nuclear posture includes, he believes, separation of warheads from launchers to minimise mistakes and a response time calibrated to avoid panic reaction.

ECONOMIST: India and Pakistan: Old foes, still foes | The

History proves that the current meltdown is not a first, and those who avoid panic selling now should be rewarded with better exit points as recovery unfolds in the months ahead.

FORBES: Is This the Worst Market Decline?

Better still, to avoid irrational exuberance or panic, use five-year average earnings in this calculation, and adjust for inflation.

FORBES: Through the Looking Glass

And the Fed, seeking to avoid a repeat of the panic, wants banking concerns to amass lots of capital.

FORBES: Banking Weighs Heavily On American Express' Stock

The threat of being wiped out in bankruptcy could cause creditors to flee both the troubled firm and any firms like it, precisely the sort of panic the resolution regime is meant to avoid.

ECONOMIST: The Senate bill is finally published

In fact many observers believe that, because people might panic unnecessarily, the Fed will wish to avoid raising interest rates in November or December though it might be ready to risk a rise in October.

ECONOMIST: Nothing to fear but fear itself

Dozens of countries have banned the import of British beef, but Europeans have begun to avoid any beef, as the "mad cow" disease panic spreads.

CNN: France supports slaughter of British cattle if necessary

Before the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, which were held at various locations in and around Los Angeles, officials tried to instill traffic panic in local residents, encouraging them to shift their commuting schedules and avoid the freeway system whenever possible.

FORBES: Carmageddon Is Upon Us!

But it also risks triggering depositor panic across Europe's weaker banking systems, something the euro zone spent most of 2012 trying to avoid.

WSJ: Post-Election Inaction Could Reawaken Crisis