WIRE: 09/13/2001 3:11 pm ET

Big Board Trade Resumption Faces Big Obstacles

By Brendan Intindola and Elizabeth Lazarowitz NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stunned brokerages, crippled communications, health hazards, and a trading floor a stone's throw away from the ruins of the World Trade Center stand in the way of restarting U.S. stock trading -- at least at the premier New York Stock Exchange.

Trading has been suspended for three days -- the longest period since World War I -- due to Tuesday's air attack on the World Trade Center that destroyed the twin towers at the heart of New York's financial district, killed perhaps thousands of Wall Street employees, and left a large swath of the downtown area covered in ash and debris.

The New York Stock Exchange, the world's largest stock market, was not damaged, but the gigantic piles of rubble, a general shutdown of lower Manhattan, and a breakdown in some phone and data lines has essentially sealed off the Big Board. What's more, companies may be reluctant to send employees into an area with health hazards like asbestos and other toxic materials.

NYSE Chairman Richard Grasso on Wednesday said stock trading could start as soon as Friday, or no later than Monday. Observers don't question a stock trading resumption on Monday, but doubt it will take place on the NYSE's trading floor.

ABC

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 13, 2001

Answers

Longer posts seem to be the problem. Will Link the articles for now.

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 13, 2001.

Anyone know the length limit?

-- PHO (owennos@bigfoot.com), September 13, 2001.

Haven't figured that out yet. To keep my frustration level down I have just been posting a short bit and Link to the rest. This has happened in the past and the webmaster will fix it shortly. I hope.

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 13, 2001.