Infosys rings Nasdaq opening bell; creates history

MYSORE: Giving off-shoring a whole new meaning, domestic IT major Infosys on Monday rung the opening bell of Nasdaq stock market from India.

Infosys, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, has become the first company to ring the customary bell, which marks the beginning of the day's trading session of the US-based stock exchange, from the sub-continent.

Even the markets welcomed the event, as Infosys shares advanced higher by over three per cent within minutes of trade commencing. However, the broader NASDAQ composite index was trading in the red in early morning trade.

The ceremony was marked with the signatures by Infosys chairman Narayan Murthy and CEO Nandan Nilekani on an electronic sign-in screen installed at the company's Mysore campus exclusively for the occasion.

The event was also attended by Nasdaq President and CEO Bob Grerfeld, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, other senior officials from Infosys and Nasdaq as well as thousands of Infosys employees.

As soon as Infosys rung the bell, the screen at the Nasdaq building at the Times Square, New York City, in the US displayed a huge sign saying "Nasdaq welcomes Infosys Technologies."

Simultaneously, Infosys' website lead browsers to a special homepage that read: "In what could happen only in a flat world, Infosys has become the first company to ring the Nasdaq opening bell from India."

Infosys was listed on the Nasdaq in March 1999.