Ticker Talk

As expected, the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday gave the four U.S. options exchanges 90 days to develop a plan to link electronically in an attempt to give investors access to the best possible prices. SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt has been asking the exchanges since February to develop a voluntary plan. . . . Online brokerage E-Trade Group, raising the stakes in the battle for customers, said it will award $1 million to the person who most accurately predicts the Dec. 31 closing of the Dow Jones industrials. . . . Internet toy retailer EToys helped lead a rebound in Net shares Tuesday after the firm said it opened its online store in Britain. EToys jumped $4.13 to $67.63.