NYSE Composite Index Gains 6.2% In The First-Quarter Of 2006 - NYA Continues To Outperform Other Major U.S. Indexes For The Third Consecutive Year

The NYSE Composite Index® (NYA) continued to outperform other major U.S. indexes in 2006, ending the first quarter up 6.2%.

On March 30, the NYA reached a new high of 8271.79, hitting 16 record highs during the first-quarter 2006. By comparison, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and S&P 500 both ended the quarter up 3.7%.

In 2005, the NYA finished the year at 7753.95, up 7.0% from the last day of trading in 2004, ahead of all major U.S. indexes for the second consecutive year.

Background:
The NYA is designed to measure the performance of all common stocks, ADRs, REITs and tracking stocks listed on the NYSE. Reintroduced in 2003 with a new methodology and recalculated base value of 5,000, the NYA outperformed all major indexes in 2004 and 2005 while showing the lowest volatility in broad based indexes.