CME Board of Directors approved amendments to GLOBEX trading hours, effective Monday, September 29, 2003.

These amendments:

(1) Eliminate the current 10:00 - 11:00 p.m. (Central time) GLOBEX shutdown for all CME products traded on the GLOBEX system (including foreign exchange and interest rate products)

(2) Open GLOBEX stock index trading at 3:30 p.m. instead of 3:45 p.m. (Central time) and

(3) add GLOBEX shutdowns both from 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. for CME stock index and NYMEX energy products and from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. for all other CME products.

These actions will provide access to GLOBEX trading during key periods where the current schedule of Exchange operations may inhibit significant trading activity. In particular, overseas customers in Exchange interest rate and foreign exchange products will be able to trade on GLOBEX between 10:00 -11:00 p.m. nightly, the time of the current operational shutdown. Further, when the new hours are effective, CME stock index product customers will be able to trade CME stock index products on GLOBEX when corporate earnings are frequently reported during the late afternoon (3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central time).

For specific session times by instrument please refer to the following news release and accompanying table posted at the following internet link.

If you have any questions please contact your Technology Marketing Account Manager or send an email to technologymarketing@cme.com.