News Centre

Brazilian Mercantile & Futures Exchange (BM&F): New Futures Contracts And Options With Reset Are Launched During Market Meeting: Details Can Be Seen Via Internet Streaming

Date 26/10/2006

The Brazilian Mercantile & Futures Exchange (BM&F) announced on October, the 24th, the creation of new derivatives contracts and volatility structured transaction. During a lecture coordinated by Alvaro Mendonça, the Exchange’s Financial and Environmental Product director, brokers and analysts were given the details regarding the new contracts. The lecture was transmitted live via video-conference to the Rio de Janeiro Stock Exchange and is available at

McLaughlin, Piven and Vogel Securities Agrees To Repay Customers Overcharged For Transferring Accounts - NASD Fines Firm $50,000, Orders Compliance Review By Independent Consultant

Date 26/10/2006

NASD today announced that McLaughlin, Piven and Vogel Securities, Inc. (MPV) of New York has agreed to pay restitution to customers who were charged excessive and unreasonable fees in connection with the transfer of their brokerage accounts to other broker-dealers through the Automated Customer Account Transfer System (ACATS). NASD has identified more than 1,500 customers who were overcharged.

Foundation For Investor Education And TheStreet.com, Inc. Form Strategic Alliance To Deliver Educational Content - Partnership Will Assist Participants In The Stock Market Game™ Program

Date 26/10/2006

The Foundation for Investor Education, the nonprofit affiliate of the Securities Industry Association (SIA), and TheStreet.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSCM), a leading provider of financial commentary, analysis, research, news and ratings, today announced they have formed a partnership to provide online investor education resources to millions of American students on TheStreet University section of TheStreet.com's free Web site: www.thestreet.com.

SEC, NASAA Announce Continuation Of IARD System Fee Waiver

Date 26/10/2006

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) today announced they will continue to waive for two years the annual system fees paid by investment adviser firms to maintain the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD) system. The SEC and NASAA also announced a waiver of initial set-up fees for new advisers filing on the IARD. Separately, NASAA announced that for the next two years it is reducing by one-third the

Standard Life PLC Replaces Banca Fideuram SpA In The S&P European Indices

Date 26/10/2006

Standard & Poor’s will make the following changes in the S&P Europe 350, S&P Euro Plus, S&P Euro and S&P United Kingdom indices, effective after the close of trading on Monday 30 October 2006: Standard Life PLC (United Kingdom, SEDOL: B16KPT4, GICS: Financials, GICS Code: 40301020) will replace Banca Fideuram SpA (Italy, SEDOL: 4079631 GICS: Financials, GICS Code: 40203010) in the S&P Europe 350, S&P Euro Plus and S&P Euro, and will be added to the S&P United Kingdom indices. Banca Fi

NYMEX To Change Margins For Natural Gas, Related Futures Contracts

Date 26/10/2006

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. today announced margin changes for its natural gas, Henry Hub swap, swing swap and penultimate swap, natural gas penultimate and last day, and NYMEX miNYTM natural gas futures contracts at the close of business tomorrow.

Share Change For Bluescope Steel Ltd. In S&P/ASX 50 Index

Date 26/10/2006

Standard & Poor’s will make the following changes in the S&P/ASX 50 Index effective after the close of trading on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006: Bluescope Steel Ltd. (Australia, SEDOL: 6533232, GICS Code: 15104050), a member of the S&P/ASX 50 Index, will increase its shares to 724,207,500. This change is the result of a dividend-reinvestment plan.

Program Trading Averaged 30.2 Percent Of NYSE Volume During Oct. 16-20

Date 26/10/2006

The New York Stock Exchange today released its weekly program-trading data submitted by its member firms. The report includes trading in all markets as reported to the NYSE for Oct. 16-20.

Share Change For Mirvac Group In S&P/ASX 50 Index

Date 26/10/2006

Standard & Poor’s will make the following changes in the S&P/ASX 50 Index effective after the close of trading on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006: Mirvac Group (Australia, SEDOL: 6161978, GICS Code: 40402010), a member of the S&P/ASX 50 Index, will increase its shares to 971,344,327. This change is the result of an institutional placement.

The NYSE Composite Index® Sets New Closing High

Date 26/10/2006

The NYSE Composite Index® (NYA)closed today at a new high of 8845.32. The previous closing high for the NYA was 8795.76 on Oct. 25.