NEW YORK, April 28, 1999—Horsesmouth, the nation's first and only online broker support network, has added Market HotSpots, a new data visualization tool from New York-based DataView LLC. Market HotSpots helps brokers identify indices, sectors, groups and stocks that are experiencing noteworthy trading activity—whether in price or volume—across all markets and sectors. HotSpots identifies price/volume movements through easy-to-read "gauges." These convergences are then put in historical and market context, making the events more meaningful.

"One look at Market HotSpots and you have a big-picture view of the entire market," said Horsesmouth managing director and co-founder William T. Nicklin. "HotSpots supports better, more intelligent client communications by a broker because it identifies and puts into context significant market activity. HotSpots gives a broker an instant view of industry group and component performance, and is sortable in five ways, including best and worst performers and price/volume. It provides a quick, visual way to spot leaders, laggards and market anomalies."

Based in New York City, the Horsesmouth broker support network is delivered over the Internet by subscription, and is available exclusively to registered financial professionals who serve individuals. Horsesmouth helps these financial professionals identify, serve and retain clients by providing a wealth of practical, business-building ideas, high-quality research, commentary, analyses and features. In addition to articles by its own writers and editors, Horsesmouth provides commentary from independent contributors including Ed Hyman and George Gilder, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and information sources including TheStreet.com, Market Guide, Zacks Investment Research and Briefing.com.

Horsesmouth was founded in 1996 by Mr. Nicklin, a former analyst with the world's leading information technology research and advisory firm, and his father, veteran broker and branch manager William F. Nicklin. "We created Horsesmouth to help brokers get clients and keep clients," said the senior Nicklin. "We believe that knowledgeable brokers will have even a greater role in personal finance in the future, and we're using the latest technology to help them succeed."

Nicklin added that brokers may become Horsesmouth members individually or as part of a firmwide program. Individual memberships are available at $99 a month. New members of the Securities Industry Association are offered corporate membership in Horsesmouth at special rates.