Amex to Trade Options on Six Securities

Amex to Trade Options on Six Securities 


NEW YORK, Feb. 25  /PRNewswire/ -- The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) will
launch trading in options on Thursday, February 26, 2004 on the following Nasdaq
Stock Market and New York Stock Exchange listed stocks of:

   -- Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. (Option Symbol: BJQ/Stock Symbol:
      BRLI)
   -- Homestore, Inc. (Option Symbol: UUU/Stock Symbol: HOMS)
   -- iVillage Inc. (Option Symbol: VVV/Stock Symbol: IVIL)
   -- Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.  (Symbol: MLM)
   -- Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (Symbol: OSG)
   -- Saxon Capital, Inc. (Option Symbol: XXX/Stock Symbol: SAXN)



Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 15 - 17
1/2 - 20 and position limits of31,500 contracts.  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. Bio-Reference
Laboratories, Inc. operates an independent clinical laboratory in the Northeast
United States.

Homestore, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 2 1/2 - 5 - 7 1/2 and
position limits of 75,000 contracts.  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.  Homestore, Inc. supplies
online media and technology to the real estate industry.

iVillage Inc. options will open with strike prices of  5 - 7 1/2 - 10 and
position limits of 22,500 contracts.  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.  iVillage Inc. is an online
women's network.

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 40 - 45-
50 and position limits of 22,500 contracts.  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. Martin Marietta
Materials, Inc. produces aggregates for the construction industry, including
highways, infrastructure, commercial and residential.

Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 30 - 35
- 40 and position limits of 22,500 contracts.  The options will trade on January
expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, July and October. 
The specialist will be Highland Securities Corp. Overseas Shipholding Group,
Inc. maintains a fleet of marine transport vessels.

Saxon Capital, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 22 1/2 - 25 - 30 and
position limits of 22,500 contracts.  The options will trade on January
expiration cycle with initial expirations in March, April, July and October. 
The specialist will be Kellogg Specialist Group, LLC. Saxon Capital, Inc.
originates, securitizes and services non-conforming residential mortgage loans,
which are primarily secured by first mortgages.

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:  Media - Jeanette Volpi, American Stock Exchange,

[phone],  



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

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