News Centre

Standard & Poor’s Announces Change To U.S. Index

Date 30/03/2005

Texas Regional Bancshares Inc. (NASD:TRBS) will replace Retek Inc. (NASD:RETK) in the S&P MidCap 400 Index after the close of trading on Tuesday, April 5, 2005. Retek is being acquired by S&P 500 constituent Oracle Corp. (NASD:ORCL) in a tender offer expected to be completed on or about that date. Standard & Poor’s will monitor this transaction, and post any relevant updates on its website: www.standardandpoors.com.

Share Changes In The S&P/ASX 50 Index

Date 30/03/2005

Standard & Poor’s will make the following changes in the S&P/ASX 50 Index effective after the close of trading Monday April 4th 2005: Origin Energy Limited (Australia, SEDOL: 6214861, GICS Code: 10102010) a member of the S&P/ASX 50 Index will increase its shares to 787,846,816. This change is due a Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

Scott Friestad Named Associate Director Of SEC's Division Of Enforcement

Date 30/03/2005

The Securities and Exchange Commission today named Scott W. Friestad Associate Director of the Commission's Division of Enforcement. As Associate Director, Mr. Friestad will serve as a senior official in the Division of Enforcement and will assist in planning and directing the Commission's investigations and other enforcement efforts.

RTS Stock Exchange Begins Calculating The Second-tier Stock Index

Date 30/03/2005

Effective March 31 st , 2005, the RTS Stock Exchange will begin to calculate the Second-tier stock Index – RTS-2. The decision to calculate the new index was made by the RTS Stock Exchange Board of Directors on March 17 th , 2005, at the recommendation of the RTS Information Committee.

Philippines’ Fixed-Income Exchange Begins Operation On Computershare X-Stream

Date 30/03/2005

Computershare Markets Technology today announced the successful beginning of live operation of the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp (PDEx), the country’s first ever fixed-income exchange. The announcement was made at a formal opening event in Manila attended by dignitaries including Secretary of the Department of Finance Cesar Purisima, e, Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission Fe Barin, , Governor of the Central Bank, Rafael Buenaventura and Australia’s Senior Trade Commissioner to

NYSE Seat Sells For $1,550,000

Date 30/03/2005

A regular seat sold on the New York Stock Exchange today, Mar. 30, 2005, for $1,550,000, unchanged from the previous regular seat sale yesterday.

NYBOT Joins FSSCC Business Continuity Planning Network

Date 30/03/2005

The New York Board of Trade® (NYBOT®) announced today that it has joined the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security (FSSCC), a network of financial trade associations and private firms representing thousands of financial services organizations. The FSSCC works closely with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and financial regulators to coordinate the private sector’s preparation for events that could disrupt the normal busines

NYBOT Announces New FCOJ Position Limits

Date 30/03/2005

The New York Board of Trade® (NYBOT®) announced today that effective immediately, the limit on the maximum net long or net short position which any one person may hold or control in Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ) Futures Contracts and Futures Equivalent Contracts has been increased to 3,200 in any other month and 3,200 in all months combined.

NYBOT Announces New Cotton Margins

Date 30/03/2005

The New York Board of Trade® (NYBOT®) announced today that effective with the opening of business on Wednesday, March 30, 2005, the cotton margin requirements are as follows:

ISE Elects Two Board Members

Date 30/03/2005

The International Securities Exchange (NYSE:ISE) said today that Brian P. Donnelly, of UBS Securities LLC, and John A. Koltes III, of the Archelon Group, joined its Board of Directors, filling terms that expire in May 2006. The ISE Board consists of 15 members, six industry directors, eight non-industry directors and ISE's Chief Executive Officer.