FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             2001-92

   SEC TO MONITOR SECURITIES MARKETS WHEN THEY OPEN MONDAY

  Washington, D.C. September 16, 2001 - The Commission today
confirmed that all the nation's securities markets  will  be
open  for  business on Monday, September  17,  2001.   As  a
result of successful systems tests conducted on Saturday  by
securities  exchanges and various market  participants,  all
equities markets have announced that they will resume normal
trading   on   Monday.   The  tests,  which  the  Commission
monitored,   verified  that  all  systems  are   sound   and
operational.    The   Commission  is  satisfied   with   the
conclusions  reached by the stock exchanges and the  Nasdaq,
and  will  continue  to  monitor the  systems  when  trading
resumes.    The   Commission  wishes  to   acknowledge   the
tremendous cooperation of so many in the private and  public
sectors throughout this effort.

   The Commission also announced that it has issued an order
granting  temporary  relief to the American  Stock  Exchange
that  permits Amex specialists to function as floor  brokers
due   to   space  limitations  in  connection  with   Amex's
relocation of part of its operations.  A copy of  the  order
is available at www.sec.gov.