NYSE Mulls Opening Full 2 Hours Earlier To Increase Revenue; A 4:30 Start For West Coast; Floor traders not excited at prospect of longer day, wonder if volume will rise.(A)

Byline: KEN HOOVER

The New York Stock Exchange is considering ringing the opening bell up to two hours earlier to try to capture more trading volume -- and much needed revenue -- from European investors.

"We are considering the expansion of hours," NYSE Chief Executive John Thain was quoted Wednesday by Bloomberg News as saying at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "It would probably be just an hour or two at the beginning or the end, more likely at the beginning."

A two-hour advance would put the open at 7:30 a.m. Eastern time. Traders say the proposal is drawing mixed reviews from floor traders and specialists, who like the idea of …