The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., today announced that it plans to be closed for the following holidays in 2004:

Thursday, January 1* New Year's Day
Friday, January 2
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed December 31, 2003; reopens 7 PM, January 4, 2004)

Monday, January 19* Martin Luther King Day
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed January 18; reopens 7 PM, January 19)

Monday, February 16* President's Day
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed February 15; reopens 7 PM, February 16)

Friday, April 9 Good Friday
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed April 8; reopens 7 PM, April 11)

Monday, May 31* Memorial Day
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed May 30; reopens 7 PM, May 31)

Monday, July 5* Independence Day Weekend
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed July 4; reopens 7 PM, July 5)

Monday, September 6* Labor Day
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed September 5; reopens 7 PM, September 6)

Thursday, November 25 Thanksgiving
Friday, November 26
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed November 24 and 25; reopens 7 PM, November 28)

Friday, December 24* Christmas
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed December 23; reopens 7 PM, December 26)

Friday, December 31* New Year's Eve
(NYMEX ClearPort^sm closed December 30; reopens 7 PM, January 2, 2005)

*Early closing on the business day preceding the holiday:
Energy markets, including NYMEX ClearPort^sm clearing, close at 1 PM.
Aluminum and palladium close at 12 noon; copper and silver at 12:05 PM;
and platinum and gold at 12:10 PM.