New Nasdaq Marketsite Tower To Light Up Times Square Largest Video Screen In The World - Mayor Giuliani And NASD CEO Zarb To Light At 5P.M. Today

The Nasdaq Stock Market® will formally open its new Nasdaq MarketSite Tower-the largest video screen in the world-in the heart of New York's Times Square this afternoon at five o'clock. New York City's Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and NASD Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank G. Zarb together will throw the switch to light-up the Nasdaq MarketSite Tower. The new Nasdaq MarketSite has been created to communicate to the world up-to-the-minute market information and to provide public education on the financial markets. Its address is 4 Times Square, in the heart of Times Square on the corner of Broadway and 43rd Street. Mayor Giuliani commented, "I can think of no better place for the new Nasdaq MarketSite Tower then right here in Times Square-The Crossroads of the World. This is a great addition to the New Times Square, and will no doubt become one of its greatest attractions The MarketSite Tower serves as a symbol of New York City's leadership in finance, and is another example of what makes New York City The Capital of the World." Frank G. Zarb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD® ), parent of the Nasdaq Stock Market, commented, "More than ever before, people from all walks of life are interested in the investing in the securities market. We've dedicated this site to the investor. Visitors from around the world will be able to experience-in a truly fascinating way-the technology and media typically viewed on their computer and television screens. The Nasdaq MarketSite Tower will stand tall for Nasdaq's ideals to be digital, global, and investor-focused. What is the New Nasdaq MarketSite at Times Square? The MarketSite's three major components are the video screen, a broadcast facility, and a public interactive exhibit, as follows: The Nasdaq MarketSite Tower: A prominent feature of the new MarketSite will be its large video screen, referred to as the "Tower." The Tower will be the largest video screen in the world, specifically: 8 stories tall; 90 feet by 120 feet (10,736 sf, or ¼ acre); state-of-the-art, light emitting diode ("LED") technology number of LEDs: 18,677,760; life-like, clear, high-resolution presentation display real-time, full-motion video, multiple video replay, text, and special effects with animated high-intensity graphics. The Tower will be used to provide financial news, global market information, and advertisements to viewers throughout Times Square-Times Square draws 1.5 million people per day. Commenting on the video screen was Fred Jalbout Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of SACO SMARTVISION, INC. , the screen's creator: "We're delighted that Nasdaq selected SMARTVISION. The cutting-edge Nasdaq display in Times Square will have visitors stopped in their tracks for years to come." Broadcast Facility: At street level, there will be a three story glass enclosed, visible from the street, broadcast studio for use by major broadcast organizations to do market updates and other financial news reporting. Against a backdrop of 96 video screens, reporters from Bloomberg, CNBC, CNNfn, MSNBC, and others will do over 100 broadcasts per day. Their reports will go live through multiple satellite uplinks around the globe. Public Interactive Exhibit: The MarketSite will also have a public interactive exhibit center, expected to open February 1, 2000. Tourists and visitors will be able to view exhibits on the markets, and participate in interactive stock market games, and to listen and view the ongoing broadcasts throughout the day. The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., is the largest securities-industry, self-regulatory organization in the United States. It is the parent organization of The Nasdaq Stock Market® , The American Stock Exchange® , and NASD Regulation, Inc. For more information about the NASD and its subsidiaries, please visit the following Web sites: www.nasd.com; www.nasdaq.com; www.amex.com; www.nasdr.com; or the Nasdaq NewsroomSM at www.nasdaqnews.com.