NYSE to Expand Trading Circuit Breakers

The New York Stock Exchange, under pressure from the Securities and Exchange Commission, agreed to expand by about 40% the circuit breakers that automatically halt trading when the market falls sharply. The NYSE board agreed to halt trading for a half-hour when the Dow Jones industrial average falls 350 points in one day, and for an hour when it falls 550 points. The current trigger points are 250 points and 400 points. The change won’t go into effect until the NYSE decision receives the expected SEC approval, exchange officials said. The NYSE, the world’s largest stock market, plans to submit the new rule to the SEC in the next couple of days, NYSE spokesman Ray Pellecchia said. SEC officials declined to comment.