SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 ____________ FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d) OF THE SECURITES EXCHANGE ACT of 1934 October 23,2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Report - date of earliest event reported) First Albany Companies Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) New York 0-14140 22-2655804 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State of Other (Commission File Number) IRS Employer Jurisdiction of ) Identification No. Incorporation) 30 South Pearl Street, Albany, New York 12207 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (518) 447-8500 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) Item 5. Other Events and Required FD Disclousre On October 23, 2003, First Albany Companies Inc. issued a news release, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99 to this report. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exhange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized. FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC. /s/Alan P. Goldberg ------------------------------ Alan P. Goldberg Title: President and CEO Dated: October 23, 2003