Amex to Trade Options on Nine Securities

Amex to Trade Options on Nine Securities 


NEW YORK, March 8  /PRNewswire/ -- The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) will
launch trading in options on Tuesday, March 9, 2004, on the underlying security
of:

   * Blue Coat Systems, Inc. (Option Symbol: IYU /Nasdaq: BCSI)
   * China Life Insurance Co., Limited, ADS (NYSE:LFC)
   * Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. (Option Symbol: QOK /
     Nasdaq: CTCO)
   * DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Option Symbol: FDU / Nasdaq: DUSA)
   * Hawaiian ElectricIndustries, Inc. (NYSE:HE)
   * OMI Corporation (NYSE:OMM)
   * Performance Technologies, Incorporated (Option Symbol: HTU /
     Nasdaq: PTIX)
   * SS&C Technologies, Inc. (Option Symbol: QUN / Nasdaq: SSNC)
   * Syntroleum Corporation (Option Symbol:HYU / Nasdaq: SYNM)



Blue Coat Systems, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 40 - 45 - 50 and
position limits of 1,350,000 shares.  The options will trade on January
expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, July and October.
The specialist will be Tanstaafl Research & Trading, LLC.  Blue Coat Systems,
Inc. provides Web security solutions that increase the protection and control of
enterprise Web infrastructures.

China Life Insurance Co., Limited, American Depositary Shares options will open
with strike prices of 22 1/2 - 25 - 30 and position limits of 7,500,000 ADS. 
The options will trade on January expiration cycle with initial expirations in
March, April, July and October.  The specialist will be Tanstaafl Research &
Trading, LLC.  China Life Insurance Co., Limited offers a wide range of life,
accident and health insurance products and services.

Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. options will open with strike prices of
35 - 40 - 45 and position limits of 2,250,000 shares.  The options will trade on
January expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, July and
October.  The specialist will be LaBranche Structured Products, LLC. 
Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. is a wireline telecommunications
services company offering a growing base of business and residential customers
the full array of state-of-the-art data and voice telecommunications products
and services, including broadband data services and high-speed internet access,
delivered over its 100% digitally-switched, fiber-rich network.

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 7 1/2  - 10 -
12 1/2 and position limits of 2,250,000 shares.  The options will trade on
January expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, July and
October.  The specialist will be Kellogg Capital Group, LLC. DUSA
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a development stage pharmaceutical company that is
researching and developing a light sensitive drug known as ALA in combination
with light devices.

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 45 -
50 - 55 and position limits of 1,350,000 shares.  The options will trade on
January expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, Julyand
October.  The specialist will be LaBranche Structured Products, LLC.  Hawaiian
Electric Industries, Inc. is a diversified holding company that delivers a
variety of services to the people of Hawaii.

OMI Corporation options will open with strike prices of 7 1/2 - 10 - 12 1/2 and
position limits of 6,000,000 shares.  The options will trade on January
expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, July and October. 
The specialist will be Bowery Specialist Group, LLC.  OMI Corporation provides
sea borne transportation services for crude oil and petroleum products in the
international shipping markets.

Performance Technologies, Incorporated options will open with strike prices of
17 1/2 - 20 - 22 1/2 and position limits of 1,350,000 shares.  The options will
trade on January expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, July
and October.  The specialist will be Tanstaafl Research & Trading, LLC. 
Performance Technologies, Incorporated supplies telecommunications and
networking products.

SS&C Technologies, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 25 - 30 - 35 and
position limits of 1,350,000 shares.  The options will trade on January
expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, July and October. The
specialist will be Group One Trading, L.P.  SS&C Technologies, Inc. provides
client/server-based financial software solutions and related consulting
services.

Syntroleum Corporation options will open with strike prices of 5 - 7 1/2 - 10
and position limits of 2,250,000 shares.  The options will trade on January
expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, July and October. The
specialist will be Charlton Specialist Partners, LLC.  Syntroleum Corporation
develops and owns a proprietary process, the Syntroleum Process, that
catalytically converts natural gas into synthetic liquid hydrocarbons.

The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) is the only primary exchange that
offers trading across a full range of equities, options and exchange traded
funds (ETFs), including structured products and HOLDRSSM.  In addition to its
role as a national equities market, the Amex is the pioneer of the ETF,
responsible for bringing the first domestic product to market in 1993. Leading
the industry in ETF listings, the Amex lists 138 ETFs to date. The Amex is also
one of the largest options exchanges in the U.S., trading options on broad-based
and sector indexes as well as domestic and foreign stocks. 

DATASOURCE: American Stock Exchange



CONTACT: Jeanette Volpi of American Stock Exchange, [phone],

 



Web site:  http://www.amex.com/ 

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