Trading halts occur for several reasons, primarily to protect investors and maintain market integrity. The most common reasons include:
- Pending Significant News: Halt in trading is often initiated when a company is about to release significant news that could potentially impact the stock price. This allows investors to be informed and make decisions based on the news rather than on incomplete information12.
- Regulatory Reasons: Trading may be halted if there are regulatory concerns or if the security is uncertain to meet the market’s listing standards. This is done to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the market23.
- Volatility: In some cases, trading may be halted when a stock experiences rapid and significant price changes. This is to prevent market manipulation and to give investors a chance to assess the situation5.
- Order Imbalance: If there is an excessive imbalance of buy or sell orders for a specific security, trading may be halted to restore order and prevent market disruption2.
In summary, trading halts are a standard practice in the financial markets, aimed at protecting investors, maintaining market integrity, and preventing market manipulation. They are typically initiated when there is significant news pending, regulatory concerns, excessive volatility, or an imbalance of orders that could disrupt the market.