The New York Stock Exchange today released its weekly program-trading data submitted by its member firms. The report includes trading in all markets as reported to the NYSE for Mar. 19-23.

The data indicated that during Mar. 19-23, program trading amounted to 32.0 percent of NYSE average daily volume of 3,205.2 million shares1, or 1,026.6 million program shares traded per day.

Program trading encompasses a wide range of portfolio-trading strategies involving the purchase or sale of a basket of at least 15 stocks with a total value of $1 million or more.

For the first quarter of 2007, the NYSE’s program-trading report includes profiles of program trading whenever the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index (NYA) moves 180 points or more in a single direction during any one-hour period. During Mar. 19-23, there were no such periods.

In all markets, program trading by member firms averaged 2,275.9 million shares a day during Mar. 19-23. About 45.1 percent of program trading took place on the NYSE, 8.0 percent in non-U.S. markets and 46.9 percent in other domestic markets, including Nasdaq, the American Stock Exchange and regional markets.