New York, NY—The Nasdaq Stock Market^® announced that Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott opened the market today at 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time, at the Nasdaq MarketSite^SM, located in New York City's Time Square. Hardwick Simmons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nasdaq*, and Daniel F.C. Crowley, Vice President of Governmental Affairs for Nasdaq, joined Senator Lott in the ceremony.

Senator Lott, of Mississippi, serves on the Finance Committee, the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and the Rules Committee. Senator Lott served as the Senate's 16th Majority Leader from June 12, 1996 to June 5, 2001.

"We are honored to be graced with Senator Lott's presence here at Nasdaq," said Simmons. "His long record of public service is outstanding. Senator Lott is a recognized national leader on domestic issues related to reinvigorating our nation's economy. And he is a staunch supporter of efforts to support our military and win the new war on terrorism."

"I am delighted to have opened trading on Nasdaq," said Senator Lott. "As we have seen through recent events, Nasdaq and our capital markets are national economic treasures. Nasdaq has made phenomenal technological advances that have led to an unprecedented level of fairness and efficiency in the securities markets. Nasdaq deserves credit for facilitating capital formation-while continuing to protect the interests of investors."

The Nasdaq Stock Market lists over 4,100 companies and trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market. For more information about Nasdaq, visit the Nasdaq Web site at www.nasdaq.com or the Nasdaq Newsroom^SM at www.nasdaq.com/newsroom.