Nymex To Close Early

The executive committee of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., has decided to close the Exchange early today due to anticipated transportation problems because of the on-going snowstorn in the New York metropolitan area.

All NYMEX Division and COMEX Division markets will close at 1:00 P.M.

For the most current information, the Exchange is advising that individuals check Fastfacts, the Exchange's 24-hour information service, at (212) 301-4871 and use extension 900 for announcements, or log onto the Exchange's world wide web home page on the Internet- http: //www.nymex.com.