A look back at other stock market closures

(MoneyWatch) U.S. stock and options exchanges will close today due to Hurricane Sandy. It is the first unscheduled, market-wide shutdown since Sept 11. Exchange officials said markets may stay closed on Tuesday, too. U.S. bond markets will close early at noon and New York-based commodity markets (oil, metals) markets will remain open, via their electronic platforms.

The last weather-related closing occurred on Friday Sept. 27, 1985 for Hurricane Gloria, but the NYSE has closed to honor the funeral of presidents, world events and technical glitches. Here is a list of some of the rare NYSE closings:

-- July 31 - Nov. 27, 1914: Closed pending outbreak of World War I. Reopened for trading in bonds with price restrictions on Nov. 28, 1914; for trading in a limited number of stocks under price restrictions on Dec. 12, 1914; and for trading in all stocks, under price restrictions, on Dec. 15, 1914. All restrictions were removed April 1, 1915.

-- Nov. 11, 1918 (Mon): Armistice signed

-- 1929 - 1933: Numerous closings; due to market volatility

-- Aug. 15-16, 1945 (Wed-Thu) V-J Day. End of World War II

-- Nov. 22, 1963 (Fri): Closed at 2:07 pm. Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

-- Sept. 27, 1985 (Fri): Market closed due to Hurricane Gloria

-- Oct. 23-30, 1987 (Fri-Fri): Shortened hours following stock crash and record-breaking volume - 2:00 pm close

Sept. 11-14, 2001 (Tue-Fri): Closed following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (longest shutdown since 1933)

[jeannutson]

The interactive effects of the weather and the natural elements on human lives by way of economic,social and health hazards is fast becoming enormous and rampant as the planet ages and as the results of the activities of rapidly exploding human population triggering such a reciprocal natural defensive mechanism from nature.