ISE DROPS FEES FOR PREMIUM PRODUCTS

Posted April 28, 2009

NEW YORK – The International Securities Exchange (ISE) has eliminated customer transaction fees for Premium Products, which include multiply-listed exchange-traded fund (ETF) and index options. The Powershares QQQ Trust Series 1 (Ticker: QQQQ) will continue to be offered at no charge for customer orders. The new fee schedule will take effect on May 1, 2009.

“ISE is committed to offering the most competitive options trading venue for retail and institutional customers,” says Boris Ilyevsky, Managing Director of ISE’s Options Exchange. “By eliminating customer transaction fees for these products, we are simplifying our fee structure so that members can be confident they will pay no transaction fees for customer orders in equity options and multiply-listed ETF and index options routed to ISE. This new pricing structure, in conjunction with our customer priority market model, provides the best and lowest cost execution for customer orders sent to ISE.”

ISE’s fees for firm and market maker trades are unaffected by the change, which is pending SEC approval.