Asensio & Co. Announces Investment Opinion; Asensio & Co.: Another AMEX Questionable Listing Collapses Shortly After Being Added to the Russell Index.

Business Editors

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following is an investment opinion issued by

Asensio & Co.

On August 1, 2000 Cross Media Marketing Corporation (AMEX: XMM, Price: $2.33) was listed on the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX").

On July 9, 2002 Cross Media announced it had been "officially added to the Russell 2000(R) Index." In the five trading days since Cross Media announced it had been added to the Russell Index its stock price has plunged more than 65%. Asensio & Company, Inc.'s report on Cross Media is available on our homepage at www.asensio.com.

On September 12, 2000 Asensio & Company, Inc. sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The letter addressed the AMEX's failure to delist companies that were involved in anti-investor conduct. The unusual events described in the letter and the attention of the media led to a congressionally-requested investigation of the AMEX. On September 18, 2000 U.S. Congressman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, John D. Dingell requested the U.S. General Accounting Office ("GAO") conduct an audit of the AMEX's listing standards.

In November 2001 the GAO's audit report confirmed the findings of an April 2001 inspection of the AMEX by the SEC Office of Compliance, Inspections and Examinations ("OCIE"). OCIE discovered "weaknesses" in the AMEX's listing program. According to the GAO report approximately 22% of companies listed on the AMEX between September 1, 1999 and November 13, 2000 (the test period) did not meet the exchange's own initial quantitative guidelines. The GAO report also states that the AMEX either granted excessive delisting deferrals or did not begin delisting proceedings in a timely manner for 15 percent of the companies reviewed in 2001.

On November 2, 2000 Asensio & Company, Inc. wrote a letter to the SEC concerning a possible stock manipulation scheme that may be causing loses to investors in Russell Stock Index mutual funds. The letter contains a table illustrating the stock performance of eight AMEX listed stocks which were recent additions to the Russell at that time. Within four months of inclusion to the Russell the value of the eight stocks had decreased between 31% and 95%. Type the following web address into your browser's address bar to read Asensio & Company, Inc.'s letter to the SEC: http://www.asensio.com/AMEX%20Investigation/Exhibit33.htm.

Asensio & Company, Inc. is actively engaged in short selling and publishes research on securities it believes are overvalued. A complete documented history of Asensio's published work with short-selling transactions, and the firm's definition of gross overvaluation, is available on the Internet at www.asensio.com. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has published a book about Asensio & Company's short selling titled "Sold Short: Uncovering Deception in the Markets." The book can be ordered on the Internet at www.asensio.com.

Asensio Brokerage Services, Inc. is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and is a member of the NASD. The firm predominantly advises private institutional clients. Short selling involves a risk not associated with the purchase of stock including, but not only limited to, unlimited loss and stock borrowing risks. Additional information is available upon request.

Copyright 2002 by Asensio & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. This report should not be construed as an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. This report has been prepared from original sources and data which we believe to be reliable but accuracy is not guaranteed. This research report was prepared by Asensio & Company, Inc. whose stockholders, officers and employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell a position in the securities mentioned herein.