The percentage of program trading in total volume on the NYSE Euronext's (NYX) New York Stock Exchange fell last week as overall trading action picked up.

Program trading averaged 799.4 million shares daily of the 2.98 billion that changed hands, or 26.9%. In the prior week, 816.6 million shares, or 30.6% of average daily volume of 2.67 billion, were part of program trades.

The most active NYSE member firms for program trading last week were Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) at 993.2 million shares for the entire week, followed by Morgan Stanley (MS) at 595 million. The duo were far above any other member firm.

Program trading encompasses a wide range of portfolio-trading strategies involving the purchase or sale of a basket of at least 15 stocks.

-By John Kell, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2480; john.kell@dowjones.com