Mayor attends reopening of New York Stock Exchange

Attending the reopening of the New York Stock Exchange this morning Mayor Rudy Giuliani said the spirit of Americans was now ‘ten times stronger’ than it was last Monday. They are ‘united as never before’ he said.

He added:' This is a day in which we will reaffirm our confidence in America.

‘‘They tried to destroy us. They took an attack right at the financial capital of American and the world.

‘‘We are going to be stronger and better than we ever were before.’’

Richard Grasso, chairman of the exchange, stood with Mayor Giuliani, New York senator and former first lady Hillary Clinton, New York Governor George Pataki, and a firefighter, policeman and ambulance worker as he prepared to sound the opening bell.

‘‘These wonderful men and women who put their lives on the line allow us to do what we do,’’ he said.

‘‘This could not happen without their great goodness and help that encircles this great country.

‘‘We would not be here without this fabulous partnership.’’

The bustling floor of the exchange fell silent at 2.30pm Irish time for two minutes, before a member of the Marines sang ‘‘God bless America’’.

And at the end of the silence, a firefighter, police officer and ambulance worker jointly pushed the button which activates the opening bell to thunderous applause, signalling the return to trading of the world’s busiest exchange.

In early trading, the markets have fallen. Earlier the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in a bid to bolster the economy.

The stock market is just three blocks away from the doomed World Trade Centre under which more than 4,000 people are buried under the rubble.

Re-opening the stock exchange was seen by New Yorkers as a gesture of defiance.