Closing Bell

The signal that marks the end of the regular trading session on the New York Stock Exchange, rung at 4:00 PM Eastern. The NYSE closing bell ceremony has become a media event and marketing opportunity -- companies celebrating IPOs, executives promoting brands, and celebrities all compete for the honor of ringing the bell. The final minutes of trading before the bell, known as the "close," are among the most volatile and highest-volume of the day as portfolio managers and algorithms execute end-of-day orders.