John Thain has indicated that he intends to review the trading system in his first months as chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange to decide whether the exchange would benefit from a more electronic format.

Thain, who will take over as chief executive on January 15, said that his goal would be to retain the NYSE's status as the most liquid exchange in the world. Thain said: "That may involve a greater degree of electronic trading but that remains to be seen.