Ding-dong - Presidents drop a clanger in New York

NEW YORK - The New York Stock Exchange opened its doors to the presidents of the Baltic States Sep. 24 and gave them the honor of ringing the bell to call an end to trading for the day.

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves of Estonia, President Valdis Zatlers of Latvia, and President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania met with NYSE Euronext CEO John A. Thain and then closed the NYSE market.

"We are honored to welcome the Presidents of the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and their respective delegations to the New York Stock Exchange," said Thain.

Then it was the turn of the presidents to deliver a few choice soundbites to spark the interest of U.S. investors. 

"Estonia is today among the world's leading countries of open and liberal economies and it is an honor to visit the New York Stock Exchange," said President Ilves. 

"The NYSE is considered by many to be the epicenter of the global stock markets today," said President Zatlers. "We are looking forward to more NYSE listed companies doing business in Latvia, using Latvia as a gateway to Europe and beyond. We also see the NYSE as being a future gateway to the US markets for Latvia's rapidly expanding and dynamic private business sector."

"We are very pleased to visit the New York Stock Exchange," said President Adamkus of Lithuania. "Lithuania is a growing part of Europe where the reality of economic convergence exceeds most forecasts. The region has the highest GDP growth in the European Union over this decade, offering the macrostability of the West and investment opportunities of the East."