The Philadelphia Stock Exchange Announces March Volume - “Volume Increases In All Products: Currency Option Contracts More Than Doubled”

The Philadelphia Stock Exchange announced today that volume in March increased in all products compared to the previous month.

Trading volume in the customized and standardized currency options for March totaled 23,039 contracts, an increase of 106.68 % compared to the previous month when 11,147 contracts traded. Volume rose 14.95% compared to the same year-ago period when 20,043 contracts traded Equity options volume for March rose 12.94% when 11,471,847 contracts traded compared to the previous month when 10,157,558 contracts traded. Equity options volume in March declined 15.65% when compared to the same year-ago period when 13,601,077 contracts traded.

Sectors index options for March increased 7.04% when 533,712 contracts traded compared to 498,620 contracts traded in February 2005. Sectors index options volume in March rose 5.03% compared to the same year-ago period when 508,134 contracts traded.

Equity volume for March reached 141,745,854 shares, up 8.86% from the previous month when 130,204,341 shares traded. Volume for March decreased 53.06% compared to the same year-ago period when 301,943,456 shares traded.

PHLX currently lists options on 21 sectors: Among them are PHLX/KBW Bank Index (BKX ^SM); KBW Insurance Index (KIX ^SM); KBW Capital Markets Index (KSX^SM); (BMX ^SM); PHLX Drug Sector ^TM (RXS ^SM); PHLX Gold/Silver Sector ^TM (XAU ^SM); PHLX Oil Service Sector ^TM (OSX ^SM); PHLX Defense Sector ^TM (DFX ^SM); TheStreet.com Internet Sector (DOT ^SM); PHLX Semiconductor Sector ^TM (SOX ^SM); PHLX Utility Sector (UTY ^SM); PHLX Housing Sector ^TM (HGX ^SM), the SIG Inves^TMent Managers Index™ (^SMQ ^SM), the PHLX Europe Sector (XEX ^SM), SIG Cable, Media & Entertainment Index ^TM (SCQ ^SM), SIG Casino Gaming Index ^TM (SGV ^SM); SIG Semiconductor Capital Equipment Index ^TM (SEZ ^SM), SIG Semiconductor Device Index ^TM (SDL ^SM) and the SIG Steel Producers Index ^TM (STQ ^SM).

The PHLX now trades iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund (FXISM) This is the first time investors in the United States and abroad will be able to track the performance of the largest and most widely traded Chinese stocks by mirroring the FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index, which captures the top Chinese stocks available to international investors by total market capitalization. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange was founded in 1790. The PHLX trades 2,000 stocks, 1,600 equity options, 19 sectors index options, and currency options and futures. For more information about the PHLX and its products, visit www.phlx.com

SIG Investment Managers Index™ is a trademark of Susquehanna Indices, LLP.

SMQ ^SM is a service mark of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. SIG Cable, Media and Entertainment Index™ is a trademark of Susquehanna Indices, LLP.

SCQ ^SM is a service mark of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

SIG Casino Gaming Index^TM, SIG Semiconductor Capital Equipment Index^TM and SIG Semiconductor Device^TM Index are trademarks of SIG Indices, LLLP. SGV^SM, SEZ^SM and SDL^SM