SAO PAULO - A STOCK exchange trader has shot himself on the trading floor in Brazil.

Sao Paulo's Bovespa stock exchange says the 36-year-old man shot himself in the chest a couple of hours before markets closed in South America's biggest city.

The Bovespa statement says Paulo Sergio Silva was taken to a hospital, but his condition was not immediately available.

It was not clear if he shot himself due to the recent sharp losses in Brazilian stocks or for other reasons.

Trading was halted for a few minutes after the shot was fired on Monday. -- AP