New York Stock Exchange Reopens Trading Floor

A man wearing a protective face mask passes the New York Stock Exchange, as employees arrive for the partial reopening of the trading floor, N.Y., on May 26, 2020. Mark Lennihan/AP Photo

NEW YORK—The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange reopened for the first time in two months with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ringing the iconic bell, while the controlled chaos was more subdued on May 26 under new pandemic rules.

The floor, known worldwide for an anarchic atmosphere with traders shouting orders over one another, has been closed since mid-March due to the outbreak caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

The NYSE says fewer traders will be on the floor at a given time for now, in order to support six-foot social distancing requirements; traders also must wear masks.

Anyone entering the Exchange at 11 Wall Street is also being asked to avoid public transportation and they will have their temperature taken before entry, said Stacey Cunningham, president of the NYSE.

New York Stock Exchange employees wait to enter the building as the trading floor partially reopens, in New York City, on May 26, 2020. Mark Lennihan/AP Photo

“We will respect the sacrifices of frontline workers and the city at large by proceeding cautiously, limiting the strain on the health-care system and the risk to those who work beneath our roof,” Cunningham wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.

Cunningham said most of the areas outside of the trading floor will remain empty and the majority of employees will continue to work remotely.

Designated market makers, who oversee the trading of the NYSE’s 2,200 listed companies, will continue to do so remotely and electronically as they have been since March 23.

Trader Daniel Krieger signals a thumbs-up as he arrives at the New York Stock Exchange where the trading floor reopens, N.Y., on May 26, 2020. Mark Lennihan/AP Photo

Several thousand brokers and others used to crowd the trading floor of the NYSE as recently as the 1990s. But in the years since, electronic trading has grown to dominate the action on Wall Street. These days, there are about 500 floor traders at the NYSE.

The reopening comes at a time when many areas of the United States are starting to lift shelter-in-place orders and allowing businesses to open their doors again.

On May 26, the World Health Organization said that the world remains mired in only the first stage of the CCP virus pandemic, putting a damper on hopes for a speedy global economic rebound.

Worldwide, the virus has infected millions of people, killing hundreds of thousands. Europe has had about 170,000 deaths and the United States has seen nearly 100,000.

The Dow surged more than 600 points at the opening bell, because of some optimism about the race for a vaccine.

Companies that have been ravaged by the pandemic, particularly travel, entertainment, and retail stocks, were among the biggest gainers by early afternoon on May 26.

The NYSE is owned by Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange.

By Matt Ott

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.