SEC Approves Stock Quotes in Half-Penny Ticks on Exchanges (2)

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has approved rules that will allow thousands of stocks and ETFs traded on exchanges to be quoted in half-penny increments.

The agency’s move Wednesday, which came with a unanimous vote from the five commissioners, might help trading venues such as the New York Stock Exchange and IEX Group Inc. better compete with wholesalers that can quote in finer increments outside of an exchange.

The changes could apply to about 2,400 securities, including stocks and exchange-traded funds, SEC officials said Tuesday during a press briefing. The number of so-called tick-constrained stocks affected by the new ...