NYSE Adjusts Rules for Trading Halts in New Year

The New York Stock Exchange has set its criteria for trading halts in the event of a steep
market drop, making only slight changes for the first quarter from the fourth, according to data on the NYSE Web site.

For the first quarter, circuit breakers will kick in if there is a drop of 1,350 points, or 10 percent, in the Dow Jones industrial average.

There will be a one-hour halt in trading if the drop happens before 2 p.m., a 30-minute halt if the decline occurs between 2 p.m. and 2.30 p.m., and no halt after 2.30 p.m., according to the NYSE.

If the Dow drops 2,700 points or 20 percent, there will be a two-hour halt if it happens before 1 p.m., a one-hour halt if the slide occurs between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and the market will
halt for the rest of the day if the slide happens after 2 p.m.

A plunge of 4,000 points or 30 percent -- no matter what time it occurs -- would result in the market being closed for the day. The previous trigger was slightly higher at 4,050 points.

Normal trading hours on the NYSE are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Dow closed the year at 13,264.82, gaining 6.4 percent in 2007.