Hurricane Irene Won’t Stop NYSE From Opening On Monday

Traders on the New York Stock Exchange will return to work as scheduled on Monday when the bell rings to resume trading, despite Hurricane Irene’s recent path of destruction.

The NYSE along with other major US exchanges have only stopped or delayed trading about two dozen times since they began with the last occurring on Jan. 8, 1996 when trading was delayed on the NYSE until 11am due to a snowstorm that caught the area by surprise.

According to an NYSE spokesman all systems are operational and the building is safe.

Irene has been downgraded to a tropical storm in most areas, posing less of a threat to travelers and residents in the area.