Mondo Visione Worldwide Financial Markets Intelligence

FTSE Mondo Visione Exchanges Index:

Archipelago Holdings Releases November 2005 Transaction Volume Data

Date 08/12/2005

Archipelago Holdings, Inc. (PCX: AX) today announced its November 2005 market transaction volume data for the Archipelago Exchange (ArcaEx(R)) and the Pacific Exchange (PCX). Specifically, in NYSE-listed equity securities, ArcaEx's total trading market share was 4.8% in November 2005, up from 2.4% in November 2004 and unchanged from 4.8% in October 2005.

In AMEX-listed equity securities, ArcaEx's total trading market share was 33.2% in November 2005, up from 25.9% in November 2004 and down from 34.5% in October 2005. ArcaEx's ETF total monthly share volume showed continued year-over-year growth with 2,406.2 (millions of shares) having traded in November 2005 compared to 1,557.8 (millions of shares) traded in November 2004 and down from 3,208.7 (millions of shares) in October 2005.

In Nasdaq-listed equity securities, ArcaEx's total trading market share was 21.6% in November 2005 down from 23.7% in November 2004 and down from 23.7% in October 2005.

In equity option contracts, the PCX's total trading market share was 12.4% in November 2005 up from 10.1% in November 2004 and up from 7.9% in October 2005.

ArcaEx Transaction Volume Data

                                            November    October    November
                                              2005        2005       2004
    Total monthly volume of Nasdaq-listed
     equity securities (millions of shares)  37,380.9    37,905.3   38,856.3
    ArcaEx monthly volume of Nasdaq-listed
     equity securities (millions of shares)
     (1)                                      8,060.7     8,983.3    9,203.0
    ArcaEx share of total monthly volume
     of Nasdaq-listed  equity securities
     (%)(2)                                     21.6 %      23.7 %     23.7 %
    Total monthly volume of NYSE-listed
     equity securities (millions of shares)  46,557.5    51,485.8   39,634.4
    ArcaEx monthly volume of NYSE-listed
     equity securities (millions of
     shares)(1)                               2,237.6     2,463.2      952.3
    ArcaEx share of total monthly volume
     of NYSE-listed equity securities (%)(2)     4.8 %       4.8 %      2.4 %
    Total monthly volume of AMEX-listed
     equity securities (millions of shares)   6,520.3     8,094.5    6,654.7
    ArcaEx monthly volume of AMEX-listed
     equity  securities (millions of
     shares) (1)                              2,167.0     2,795.0    1,721.1
    ArcaEx share of total monthly volume
     of AMEX-listed equity securities (%)(2)    33.2 %      34.5 %     25.9 %
    ArcaEx ETF total monthly share volume
    (millions of shares)(1)                   2,406.2     3,208.7    1,557.8
    ArcaEx monthly customer order volume
     matched internally (%)(3)                  89.2 %      89.8 %     87.6 %
    ArcaEx monthly customer order volume
     routed out (%)(3)                          10.8 %      10.2 %     12.4 %
    Number of trading days in period               21          21         21

                       ArcaEx Most Active November 2005
                    Symbol                  Share Volume        Market Share
    Nasdaq-100 Index(R)          (QQQQ)       489,549,534             28.5 %
    SPDR(R)                       (SPY)       370,730,449             31.3 %
    iShares(R) MSCI Japan Index   (EWJ)       290,826,260             53.1 %
    Microsoft(R)                 (MSFT)       241,007,730             16.7 %
    iShares(R) Russell 2000 Index (IWM)       240,806,775             42.7 %
    Intel(R)                     (INTC)       226,189,773             20.0 %
    Energy Select Sector SPDR     (XLE)       202,102,933             47.9 %
    Cisco(R) Systems             (CSCO)       191,129,007             15.5 %
    ML Semiconductor HLDR         (SMH)       141,819,700             42.7 %
    Sun Microsystems             (SUNW)       136,544,431             12.5 %

    PCX Equity Option Transaction Volume Data

                                               November    October    November
                                                 2005        2005       2004
    Total consolidated monthly equity option
     contract volume (millions of contracts)    136.2       140.2      105.4
    PCX monthly equity option contract
     volume (millions of contracts) (4)          16.9        11.1       10.6
    PCX share of total monthly equity option
     contract volume (%) (4)                    12.4 %       7.9 %     10.1 %

Additional information on ArcaEx daily, weekly and monthly trading transaction volumes is publicly available in real time through the ArcaVision website accessible via http://www.archipelago.com. Additional data and enhanced functionality can be obtained through a free subscription to ArcaVision. Investors and ArcaEx clients can subscribe to ArcaVision at http://www.arcavision.com.

  1. For purposes of calculating monthly transaction volume on ArcaEx, we include all shares that are "handled" on ArcaEx for the month. Handled shares include both shares that are bought and sold during the month within our internal liquidity pool and shares that are routed to external market centers for execution.

  2. ArcaEx monthly market share is calculated based on the number of shares handled on the ArcaEx system during the month as a percentage of total monthly volume. Total monthly volume is based on the number of shares of equity securities traded during the month on Nasdaq, AMEX or the NYSE, including, if applicable, exchange-traded funds, as reported in the consolidated tape. The "consolidated tape" provides last sale price and volume of equity securities transactions to the public.

  3. In computing the percentage of monthly client order volume matched internally and the monthly percentage of customer order volume routed out, we calculate the percentage based on the volume of individual customer orders, not the volume of matched trades (i.e., only counting one side of a matched transaction). For example, we calculate two customer orders matched internally on our system as two customer orders matched internally, and we include the volume of both the buy order and the sell order in computing our percentages of monthly customer order volume matched internally and routed out. We calculate one customer order routed to an external market center (which will be matched with an order at that other market center) as one outbound trade or one customer order. We calculate one customer order routed to us from an external market center and matched with an order on our system as one inbound trade or one customer order.

  4. Archipelago Holdings completed its acquisition of PCX Holdings, Inc., the parent company of the PCX, on September 26, 2005. Option volume is reported by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC).

About Archipelago Holdings

Archipelago Holdings (PCX: AX) operates the Archipelago Exchange(R) (ArcaEx(R)) the first totally open all-electronic stock exchange in the United States. ArcaEx trades all Nasdaq-listed equity securities and exchange listed equity securities, including those listed on the New York Stock Exchange(R), American Stock Exchange(R), and ArcaEx(R). In addition to offering core execution services, ArcaEx provides corporate clients with listing services and innovative data products. In September 2005, Archipelago acquired PCX Holdings, Inc., parent company of the Pacific Exchange and PCX Equities, Inc. allowing Archipelago to bring together the all-electronic trading of equity securities and options products thereby expanding and diversifying Archipelago's business lines. For more information please visit http://www.archipelago.com.

ArcaEx's, past transaction performance is not necessarily indicative of its future results. Periodically, ArcaEX's transaction performance will experience fluctuations due to unforeseen factors effecting trading activity, including seasonality, general economic, political and market conditions, unforeseen market closures or other disruptions in trading. A description of the factors that may influence ArcaEx's volume of securities transactions are identified in the Company's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission, including its Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004 which is available on the Company's website at http://www.archipelago.com.

Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on Archipelago's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Archipelago's actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. There can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause Archipelago's results to differ materially from current expectations include: general economic and business conditions, industry trends, competitive conditions, regulatory developments as well as other risks or factors identified in the Company's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission, including its Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004 which is available on the Company's website at http://www.archipelago.com. You should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except for any obligation to disclose material information under the Federal securities laws, Archipelago undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.