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CBOE To Launch Options And Futures On New Family Of Sector Indexes, "Powerpacks," Friday, July 8

Date 07/07/2005

The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and the CBOE Futures Exchange (CFE) will launch options and futures contracts, as previously announced, based on 12 newly created sector indexes, called "PowerPacksSM," tomorrow, July 8th.

This new family of sector indexes, PowerPacks, was designed by CBOE to provide investors with a comprehensive set of trading tools to manage the risk of, or gain exposure to, a diversified group of stocks in certain industry groups. Both cash-settled index options and futures on these 12 new indexes will be offered, trading on CBOE and the CBOE Futures Exchange (CFE), respectively.

The 12 individual indexes included in the family of PowerPacks are: CBOE PowerPacks Bank, Biotechnology, Gold, Internet, Iron & Steel, Oil, Oil Services, Pharmaceuticals, Retail, Semiconductor, Technology, and Telecom Indexes.

The new CBOE PowerPacks employ a consistent, objective methodology for component selection and calculation. Each index is comprised of 25 securities that are among the largest and most actively traded companies in their respective industry groups. Each index is calculated using a "modified" capitalization methodology that limits the weight of individual components to 10% initially, and on subsequent re-balancing dates. The indexes will be re-balanced quarterly, each on the same date.

Futures based on the PowerPacks sector indexes will trade electronically on CFE, via CBOEdirect. The options will trade at CBOE, electronically and via open-outcry, on the CBOE Hybrid Trading System.

The Designated Primary Market Maker (DPM) for futures and options on the CBOE PowerPacks Biotech, Gold, Iron & Steel, and Pharmaceutical Indexes is Jane Street Specialists, LLC. The DPM for futures and options on the CBOE PowerPacks Retail and Telecom Indexes is LaBranche Structured Products, LLC. The DPM for the CBOE PowerPacks Bank, Internet, Oil, Oil Services, Semiconductor and Technology Indexes is Timber Hill LLC.

For details on ticker symbols, expiration cycles, position limits, component stocks and other contract information, please visit http://www.cboe.com/PowerPacks

CBOE, the world's largest options marketplace and the creator of listed options, is regulated by the SEC. For additional information about the CBOE and its products, access the CBOE website at: http://www.cboe.com/