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 Dec. 11-15.

The data indicated that during Dec. 11-15, program trading amounted to 35.7 percent of NYSE average daily volume of 3,397.3 million shares1, or 1,211.4 million program shares traded per day. This included program trading associated with the December 15 quarterly expiration of stock-index options, futures and options on index futures.

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 fourth quarter of 2006, the NYSE’s program-trading report includes profiles of program trading whenever the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index (NYA) moves 160 points or more in a single direction during any one-hour period. During Dec. 11-15, there were no such periods.

In all markets, program trading by member firms averaged 2,675.4 million shares a day during Dec. 11-15. About 45.3 percent of program trading took place on the NYSE, 8.9 percent in non-U.S. markets and 45.8 percent in other domestic markets, including Nasdaq, the American Stock Exchange and regional markets.