Mayor Rudolph Giuliani surprised reporters yesterday when he said he hoped the New York Stock Exchange would resume trading today but late last night the NYSE chairman, Mr Richard Grasso, said that it would remain closed, definitely until tomorrow and possibly until Monday.
Nothing could better illustrate just how difficult it is going to be for this great city, and especially its financial centres located near the World Trade Centre, to resume normal life and business after Tuesday's attack on the World Trade Centre. Mr Grasso said that enormous impact of the falling towers on Tuesday had caused earthquake-like damage to conduits underground. And as convoys of dumper trucks roared through the streets to remove rubble to help rescue work yesterday afternoon, there were three more building collapses in the immediate vicinity which sent firemen, police and journalists racing for safety.
People trying to return to some form of normality yesterday after the shock and trauma of the attack were confronted with the sight of National Guard troops in metal helmets in the financial district, and of an aircraft carrier sent from Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia cruising off shore. Late yesterday the breeze changed direction sending fumes and smoke from the wreckage - where the ruins of Tower 7 burned all day - drifting into mid-town Manhattan rather than out across the East River. Many offices and stores throughout Manhattan were closed and for the second night in a row last night, all Broadway and off Broadway shows were cancelled. Hundreds queued at Bellvue Hospital to donate blood. Last night the official death toll stood at 55 but is expected to rise into the thousands. Of these almost 300 were firemen.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who has tirelessly appeared on television in baseball cap urging calm and praising the rescue effort, said: "We urge people to go to restaurants, go shopping, do things that show you are not afraid." At a press conference he revealed that there had been some incidents of violence against people of Arabic origin. "We're dealing with the same sick hatred. It would be terrible if New Yorkers practiced any form of it," he said. There had been only one report of looting, the mayor said.
However several hotels including Ramada and Best Westin, and petrol stations, were severely criticised by refugees from downtown Manhattan for steeply increasing prices to profit from the catastrophe.
All New York schools in the city are to reopen, two hours late, this morning but will remain closed in the area south of 14th street, which comprises more than half the entire downtown area. When traders and investors return to Wall Street under police escort they will find dust and debris on streets and trees after seven building collapses in two days. Employees will have to cope with fumes from the smouldering remains of burned office furniture and electronic equipment, though Mayor Giuliani said that while masks were advised, the smoke were not toxic.
Several blocks in Brooklyn containing Arab stores were sealed off by police for the safety of residents, many of whom hung out American flags. The NY Stock Exchange has not closed for more than two working days since the Great Depression. It closed for one day after President John F Kennedy was assassinated. Wall Street still has electricity and telephones but major financial offices have been wiped out. General Electric donated $10 million to a recovery effort and Cisco $4 million.
The Empire State Development Corporation is to be devoted to finding resources and new office space for the 350 companies which were based in the two towers. Mr Grasso said that pending a joint meeting of officials today of financial markets, Wall Street firms and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock markets could resume trading tomorrow, but no later than Monday. Treasury Undersecretary Peter Fisher said government bond trading would resume today. The Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where futures contracts are traded, will also reopen.