Stock market trading suspended as of approximately 11:30 a.m.
Trading in all symbols was halted on the New York Stock Exchange floor Wednesday due to an apparent technical issue.
“NYSE/NYSE MKT has temporarily suspended trading in all symbols. Additional information will follow as soon as possible,” the NYSE said in a statement on its status page.
The exchange was investigating the issue that caused the halt, Reuters reported, citing a source. Trading stopped around 11:30 a.m. ET.
Not to be a paranoid conspiracy theorist, but this kind of “technical issue” just doesn’t happen. It’s happened once or twice to NASDAQ, but never on the NYSE. I blame Michael Lewis‘ book Flash Boys for knowing more than I ought to about how these markets can be manipulated and hacked for private gain. It’s worth the read.
Coincidentally or otherwise, the Chinese stock market has been in free fall for the past month, down over one third.
With all due respect to Chris Van Holllen’s impressive fundraising numbers, this is now the story of the day. Do not for one minute believe the flacks who will soon be out to tell you that the problem was a router or a glitch in the system. They know no more than you or me, but they have a strong interest in “all is well.” I have a very strong feeling that it’s not well at all.