American Stock Exchange to Trade Options on Four Securities

American Stock Exchange to Trade Options on Four Securities 


NEW YORK, May 3  /PRNewswire/ -- The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) will
launch trading in options on Tuesday, May 4, 2004 on the following Nasdaq Stock
Market and New York Stock Exchange listed stocks of:

   * Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Option Symbol: QUF/Stock Symbol: IDEV)
   * Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, American Depositary Shares
     (Symbol: NTT)
   * Ventana Medical Systems Inc. (Option Symbol: UMI /Stock Symbol: VMSI)
   * Vicuron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Option Symbol: UMO /Stock Symbol: MICU)



Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 5 - 7 1/2
- 10 and position limits of 3,150,000 shares.  The options will trade on the
March expiration cycle with initial expirations in May, June, September, and
December.  The specialist will be Wolverine Trading L.P. Indevus
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops and commercializes a diversified portfolio of
products and product candidates, including multiple compounds in late-stage
clinical development.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, American Depositary Shares options
will open with strike prices of 22 1/2 - 25 - 30 and position limits of
2,250,000 shares.  The options will trade on the March expiration cycle with
initial expirations in May, June, September, and December. The specialist will
be Taanstaafl Research & Trading, LLC.  Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
Corporation provides a variety of telecommunication services, including
telephone, telegraph, leased circuits, data communication, terminal equipment
sales and related services.

Ventana Medical Systems Inc. options will open with strike prices of 45 - 50 -
55 and position limits of 1,350,000 shares.  The options will trade on the
March expiration cycle with initial expirations in May, June, September, and
December. The specialist will be LaBranche Structured Products, LLC. Ventana
Medical Systems, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets instrument reagent
systems that automate tissue and slide staining in histology laboratories
worldwide.

Vicuron Pharmaceuticals Inc. options will open with strike prices of 20 - 22
1/2 - 25 and position limits of 3,150,000 shares.  The options will trade on
the March expiration cycle with initial expirations in May, June, September,
and December. The specialist will be Taanstaafl Research & Trading, LLC. 
Vicuron Pharmaceuticals Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company that
discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes vital medicine for
seriously ill patients.

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 HOLDRS(SM). 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:  Media, Lynn Duffy of American Stock Exchange, [phone],

or  



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

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