Sec Probes NYSE Trading Firms - Report

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (news - web sites) has subpoenaed seven stock-trading firms as it widens a probe into suspected trading violations, The Washington Post reported in its Sunday edition.

Citing unnamed sources, The Post said the SEC had sent subpoenas to seven "specialist" firms that hold an exclusive license to trade on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (news - web sites), seeking trading records, organizational charts and e-mails dating back to the beginning of 2000.

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The seven firms facing SEC investigation include LaBranche & Co. (NYSE:LAB - news); FleetBoston Financial Corp.(NYSE:FBF - news)'s Fleet Specialists; Spear, Leeds & Kellogg LP; Van Der Moolen Specialists USA; Bear Wagner Specialists LLC; Performance Specialist Group LLC, and Susquehanna Specialists Inc.

All of the firms either declined to comment or did not return calls to the newspaper.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=568&e=18&u=/nm/finance_probe_dc