OK on Narrower Stock Quotes Expected

The Securities and Exchange Commission is likely to approve within the next 10 days a Nasdaq Stock Market request to narrow stock quote increments to sixteenths of a dollar from eighths, an SEC official said. “I don’t see any barriers at this point,” said SEC market regulation director Richard Lindsey. “I expect us to approve it.” The proposal seeks to give investors the opportunity to trade at more favorable stock prices by lowering the minimum difference between the buying and selling prices on any trade. Under the Nasdaq plan, stock quote increments on the nation’s second-largest stock market would be reduced to 6.25 cents from 12.5 cents.