Eurex Launches 17 New Stock Options On European Blue Chips - Starting With Dutch, Italian And French Stock Options

The European derivatives market, Eurex, is launching six Dutch, three Italian and eight French stock options: The launch date for the Dutch and Italian stock options is March 20, 2000; they will be followed by the French stock options on May 22, 2000. Eurex is thus adding 17 products to its European stock option segment and further expanding its leading market position in trading in this segment. The new stock options are on ABN Amro, Aegon, ING, Phillips, Royal Dutch and Unilever; Assicurazioni Generali, Eni and Telecom Italia; AXA-UAP, Aventis, BNP Paribas, Carrefour, France Telecom, L´Oreal, Total Fina and Vivendi. A total of 32 of the Dow Jones Euro STOXX 50 issues are tradable at Eurex, accounting for 80% of the market capitalization of the entire index. Eurex is responding to the wishes of its international participants and the steadily growing importance of the Dow Jones Euro STOXX 50 equities. The market participants have the opportunity to trade the Dow Jones STOXX index derivatives as well as the corresponding stock options on one platform at the lowest exchange fees in Europe. The stocks were selected based on the Dow Jones Euro-STOXX index weighting, the turnover (domestic and foreign as well as in cash and derviatives transactions) and in consideration of market interests.