NYBOT Announces Changes To Trading Hours For Last Trading Day For Cotton No. 2 Futures Contract

The New York Board of Trade® (NYBOT®) announced today that effective with the start of trading on Tuesday, February 18, 2003, the hours of trading for the Cotton No. 2 futures contract have been amended to eliminate the provision for trading in the expiring futures contract month on its last trading day to cease 2 hours prior to the close of trading in all other contract months on that day.

With this change, trading in all contract months, including the expiring month, will continue through the normal market close on the last trading day for any futures contract.

The New York Board of Trade (NYBOT) is the parent company of the Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa Exchange, Inc. (CSCE) and the New York Cotton Exchange (NYCE). Through its two exchanges and their subsidiaries and divisions NYBOT offers an expanding range of agricultural, currency and index products. Information about the New York Board of Trade can be found at www.nybot.com.