FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  2001-96
  
  
  
     Statement by Acting Director of Enforcement Stephen
                           Cutler
                              
  
  
       Washington, DC, September 19, 2001 – Today Acting
  Director of Enforcement Stephen M. Cutler made the
  following statement:
  
  
  
     "We have received reports that those associated with
     the terrorist activities of last week may have sought
     to exploit our securities markets to profit from those
     activities. We are vigorously pursuing all credible
     leads but, at this time, we have drawn no conclusions.
     Speculation about what we have concluded or not
     concluded, as well as what we are or aren't looking at,
     is just that -- speculation -- and it has absolutely no
     foundation in fact. This is obviously a matter of
     utmost importance.   We are working closely with other
     federal law enforcement authorities, as well as the
     self-regulatory organizations and our foreign
     regulatory counterparts, to provide all possible
     assistance.”
     
     
     
                            # # #