NYSE Euronext yesterday braced itself for Irene, with the Big Board vowing to keep the wheels of Wall Street turning despite the expected hurricane-force winds and rains.
“We intend to be open for trading on Monday,” said spokesman Richard Adamonis. “We have contingency plans in place for such events, with the goal of having the market up and running while ensuring the safety of our people.”
NYSE reached out to its employees and the trading community while readying its backup power generators. Its weather-related closures have been rare, with trading shortened on Jan. 8, 1996, and Feb. 11, 1994, because of snowstorms.
COMPLETE HURRICANE IRENE COVERAGE
NYC OEM: HURRICANE EVACUATION ZONE FINDER
The most recent hurricane-related closure came on Sept. 27, 1985, when it shut down for the entire day in the wake of Hurricane Gloria.
Meanwhile, the Nasdaq OMX Group said it, too, hopes to operate normally Monday.
“Nasdaq OMX has plans and procedures in place to ensure the readiness of its systems and staff in events such as these and will communicate regularly with members leading up to and after the storm,” it said in a statement.