Chicago Stock Exchange Growth Continues In October - Trade Volume Up 126 Percent Over October '99 - Share Volume Up 90 Percent Over October '99

The Chicago Stock Exchange (CHX) today announced another robust month of volume in October. Total trade volume for the month finished at 6,036,257, an increase of 126 percent over October 1999, while share volume reached 2,605,069,368, up 90 percent from last October.

"Our wide array of product offerings executed in a fast and accurate manner have enabled the CHX to maintain triple-digit trade volume growth as compared to 1999," said CHX President and CEO Bob Forney.

The CHX's Over-the-Counter (OTC) program, which currently trades more than 900 Nasdaq issues, also continued to prosper in October. The Exchange's Nasdaq trade volume ended at 3,396,977, up 304 percent over October 1999, while share volume finished at 1,141,418,023, an increase of 246 percent from the same time last year. The CHX is the only floor-based auction market in the country that trades Nasdaq issues.

During October, share volume for extended hours trading from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time totaled 32,304,648.

The Chicago Stock Exchange was founded May 15, 1882 and is the second most active stock exchange in terms of share and trade volume. The CHX is also the fastest-growing exchange, providing the strongest force for competition to all U.S. markets. The CHX trades more than 4,500 NYSE, Amex, Nasdaq and CHX-exclusive issues, more than any other stock exchange in the world.