FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 99-38 Future Investors Open Trading at the New York Stock Exchange Washington, D.C., April 26, 1999 -- Seven students representing the next generation of America's savers and investors rang the bell to open trading this morning at the New York Stock Exchange. The bell ringing ceremony also marked the start of the Facts on Saving and Investing Campaign's efforts to encourage young people to learn about saving and investing. "There are few things that are more important to know in life than knowing how to manage your money, and there's no better time to start learning about saving and investing than when you're young," said Nancy Smith, Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Investor Education and Assistance. "The need for an informed and educated public is more important today than ever as the number of Americans who invest their savings in the equities marketplace continues to grow at an incredibly rapid pace," said NYSE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard A. Grasso. "It's especially important to reach the next generation of investors, America's youth," Grasso added. "By equipping our young people with a sound foundation of knowledge and awareness of the capital marketplace, we are investing in their future and in our nation's future. The Exchange is proud of our long-standing and continuing commitment to investor outreach and our partnership with the Facts on Saving and Investing Campaign." Among the students ringing the bell this morning were the three first-place winners of the National Endowment for Financial Education's Financial Literacy Awards. The students, who received $5,000 each from the endowment, won for their essays, posters and websites that addressed the theme "Savings -- My Springboard to Success." According to Elizabeth Schiever, coordinator of the national competition, the purpose of the Financial Literacy Awards is "to promote life-long financial responsibility among young people by recognizing teens who display, through their winning entries, an outstanding knowledge of money management concepts." The four pre-school children represent of the Greater New York YMCA, which is one of many youth and investor organizations participating in investor and market education programs offered by the New York Stock Exchange. The Facts on Saving and Investing Campaign is a national partnership of government agencies, educational organizations, consumer groups, and business associations organized to help Americans of all ages save and invest wisely. During the week of April 25 - May 1, campaign partners in nearly every state will offer financial literacy programs with a special emphasis on young people, whether still in school or just entering the workplace. # # # The opening bell feed beginning at 9:25 a.m. EDT and closing bell feed beginning at 3:55 p.m. EDT are available daily via fiber line at: Waterfront #1630, #6209 and #6277. The NYSE Daily News Feed is available from 2:30-2:45 p.m. (EDT) by satellite at the following coordinates: Telstar 4 C-Band, Transponder 20, Audio 6.2 and 6.8, and by fiber line at Waterfront #1630, #6209 and # 6277. A re-broadcast of the NYSE Daily News Feed is also available following the closing bell feed and can be accessed by fiber line at Waterfront #1630.