NYSE Trading Floor Moves More Remote

InterContinental Exchange’s New York Stock Exchange is moving back to more remote operations amid rising numbers of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the New York area.

“On Monday, December 28, 2020, in response to changes in the NYC-area public health conditions, NYSE Designated Market Makers (DMMs) will temporarily return to remote operations (with limited exceptions),” the NYSE said in a statement.

The iconic NYSE floor shut down in late March as the COVID-19 pandemic first came into focus. The floor reopened two months later, with some limitations, and has remained open since as the virus has proved a durable foe.

COVID-19 numbers improved around early summer and some firms were planning returns to the office, but then the situation deteriorated, putting most of those plans on hold. The recent increase in cases is expected to continue at least for another month or two, then subside as the holidays are over and more people get vaccinated.