American Stock Exchange to Trade Options On Eight Additional Securities

American Stock Exchange to Trade Options On Eight Additional
Securities 


NEW YORK, June 30  /PRNewswire/ -- The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R))
will launch trading in options on Thursday, July 1, 2004 on the following
Nasdaq Stock Market and New York Stock Exchange listed stocks of:

   * American Medical Systems Holdings, Inc. (Option Symbol: FGU/Stock
     Symbol: AMMD)
   * Axcan Pharma Inc. (Option Symbol: FWQ/Stock Symbol: AXCA)
   * BEI Technologies, Inc. (Option Symbol: GEI/Stock Symbol: BEIQ)
   * MoneyGram International, Inc. (Symbol: MGI)
   * Nutraceutical International Corporation (Option Symbol: GGQ/Stock
     Symbol: NUTR)
   * Resources Connection, Inc. (Option Symbol: JUJ/Stock Symbol: RECN)
   * Swift Energy Company (Symbol: SFY)
   * The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. (Option Symbol: JUL/Stock Symbol:
     ULTI)



American Medical Systems Holdings, Inc. options will open with strike prices of
30 - 35 - 40 and position limits of 2,250,000 shares.  The options will trade
on the February expiration cycle with initial expirations in July, August,
November and February.  The specialist will be Fogel Group, LLC. American
Medical Systems Holdings, Inc. supplies medical devices to physicians
specializing in the treatment of urological disorders.

Axcan Pharma Inc. options will open with strike prices of 17-1/2 - 20 - 22-1/2
and position limits of 2,250,000 shares.  The options will trade on the
February expiration cycle with initial expirations in July, August, November
and February.  The specialist will be Fogel Group, LLC.  Axcan Pharma Inc., a
pharmaceutical company, researches, develops and distributes pharmaceutical
products, mainly in the field of gastroenterology.

BEI 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 the February
expiration cycle with initial expirations in July, August, November and
February. The specialist will be Charlton Specialist Partners, LLC.  BEI
Technologies, Inc., through its principal subsidiary, BEI Sensors & Systems
Company, Inc., manufactures electronic sensors, motors, actuators and motion
control products used for factory and office automation, medical equipment,
military, aviation and space systems.

MoneyGram International, Inc. 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
the January expiration cycle with initial expirations in July, August, October
and January.  The specialist will be Bear Wagner Specialists, LLC.  MoneyGram
International, Inc. provides payment services to customers and businesses
through a network of agents and its financial institution customers.

Nutraceutical International Corporation options will open with strike prices of
20 - 22-1/2 - 25 and position limits of 2,250,000 shares.  The options will
trade on the February expiration cycle with initial expirations in July,
August, November and February.  The specialist will be Highland Securities
Corp.  Nutraceutical International Corporation manufactures and markets branded
nutritional supplements sold to health food stores.

Resources Connection, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 35 - 40 - 45
and position limits of 2,250,000 shares.  The options will trade on the
February expiration cycle with initial expirations in July, August, November
and February.  The specialist will be Fogel Group, LLC.  Resources Connection,
Inc. is a professional services firm.  The Company provides accounting and
finance, human resources management and information technology professionals to
clients on a project-by-project basis.

Swift Energy Company options will open with strike prices of 20 - 22-1/2 - 25
and position limits of 2,250,000 shares.  The options will trade on the
February expiration cycle with initial expirations in July, August, November
and February. The specialist will be LaBranche Structured Products, LLC. Swift
Energy Company is an independent oil and gas company that explores, develops,
acquires and operates oil and gas properties.

The Ultimate Software Group, Inc options will open with strike prices of 7-1/2
- 10 - 12-1/2 and position limits of 1,350,000 shares.  The options will trade
on the February expiration cycle with initial expirations in July, August,
November and February. The specialist will be Kellogg Capital Group, LLC.  The
Ultimate Software Group, Inc. designs, markets, implements and supports
Web-Based and client/server cross-industry human resource management (HRMS) and
payroll software solutions.

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: The American Stock Exchange



CONTACT:  Lynn Duffy of American Stock Exchange, [phone],

 



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

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