By James Langton

(April 14 – 17:20 ET) – The Securities and Exchange Commission has scrapped its planned move to decimalization in July. It’s now looking at next March as the probable deadline.

The SEC had to halt its planned implementation because the National Association of Securities Dealers’ members won’t be ready. It has set March 31, 2001 as the NASD’s deadline, but it is seeking comment on whether exchange-traded securities should implement decimalization this fall.

The SEC is offering two alternatives. Either all exchange-listed stocks can begin trading in decimals on September 4, or a phase-in could begin with a handful of stocks. All stocks would join in by March 31, 2001.

Once it gets the comments and digests them, the SEC will decide whether to fast-track decimalization, or phase it in.