American Stock Exchange to Trade Options on Thirteen Securities

American Stock Exchange to Trade Options on Thirteen Securities



NEW YORK, July 19  /PRNewswire/ -- The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R))
will launch trading in options on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 on the following
American Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Stock Market and New York Stock Exchange listed
stocks of:

   -- Autodesk, Inc. (Option Symbol: ADQ/Stock Symbol: ADSK)
   -- Brooks Automation, Inc. (Option Symbol: BQE/Stock Symbol: BRKS)
   -- Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (Symbol: CDN)
   -- Harris & Harris Group, Inc. (Option Symbol: QJT/Stock Symbol: TINY)
   -- The Houston Exploration Company (Symbol: THX)
   -- Immtech International, Inc. (Symbol: IMM)
   -- Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. (Option Symbol: QZS/Stock Symbol: JOSB)
   -- Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (Symbol: KCI)
   -- PetMed Express, Inc.  (Option Symbol: TRQ/Stock Symbol: PETS)
   -- Range Resources Corporation (Symbol: RRC)
   -- Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.  (Option Symbol: PQN/Stock Symbol: SLXP)
   -- Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation (Option Symbol: JJQ/
      Stock Symbol: SSCC)
   -- Tularik Inc. (Option Symbol: TIQ/Stock Symbol: TLRK)



Autodesk, Inc options will open with position limits of 7,500,000 shares. The
options will trade on the January expiration cycle. The specialist will be
Fogel Group, LLC.  Autodesk, Inc. supplies PC software and multimedia tools.

Brooks Automation, Inc. options will open with position limits of 7,500,000
shares.  The options will trade on the January expiration cycle. The specialist
will be Stuyvesant Trading Group.  Brooks Automation, Inc. delivers automation
solutions to the global semiconductor and related industries.

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. options will open with position limits of
7,500,000 shares.  The options will trade on the February expiration cycle. The
specialist will be Stuyvesant Trading Group.  Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
provides software technology and comprehensive design and consulting services
and technology.

Harris & Harris Group, Inc. options will open with position limits of 3,150,000
shares.  The options will trade on the March expiration cycle. The specialist
will be AGS Specialists, LLC.  Harris & Harris Group, Inc. is a venture capital
investment company.

The Houston Exploration Company options will open with position limits of
2,250,000 shares.  The options will trade on the March expiration cycle. The
specialist will be Fogel Group, LLC.  The Houston Exploration Company explores,
develops, exploits and acquires natural gas and oil properties.

Immtech International, Inc. will open with position limits of 1,350,000 shares.
 The options will trade on the March expiration cycle. The specialist will be
Bowery Specialist Group, LLC. Amex-listed Immtech International, Inc. is a
pharmaceutical company seeking to commercialize oral treatments for infectious
diseases.

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc will open with position limits of 3,150,000 shares.
 The options will trade on the January expiration cycle. The specialist will be
Susquehanna Investment Group.  Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. manufactures
classic men's clothing.

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. will open with position limits of 3,150,000 shares. The
options will trade on the January expiration cycle. The specialist will be
Susquehanna Investment Group.  Kinetic Concepts, Inc. designs, manufactures,
markets and services proprietary products that accelerate the healing process
or prevent complications.

PetMed Express, Inc. will open with position limits of 2,250,000 shares. The
options will trade on the March expiration cycle. The specialist will be
Charlton Specialist Partners, LLC.  PetMed Express, Inc. is a pet pharmacy.

Range Resources Corporation will open with position limits of 3,150,000 shares.
 The options will trade on the March expiration cycle. The specialist will be
Charlton Specialist Partners, LLC. Range Resources Corporation, an independent
oil and gas company, conducts operations in the Applachian, Permian,
Midcontinent and Gulf Coast regions.

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. will open with position limits of 3,375,000 shares.
 The options will trade on the January expiration cycle. The specialist will be
Group One Trading L.P.  Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. develops and markets
prescription pharmaceutical products for the treatment of gastrointestinal
diseases.

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation will open with position limits of 7,500,000
shares.  The options will trade on the February expiration cycle. The
specialist will be TAANSTAAFL Research & Trading, LLC.  Smurfit-Stone Container
Corporation is an integrated manufacturer of paper and paper-based packaging,
as well as a paper recycler.

Tularik Inc. will open with position limits of 6,000,000 shares.  The options
will trade on the January expiration cycle. The specialist will be Kellogg
Capital Group, LLC.   Tularik Inc. discovers and develops a range of novel and
orally available drugs based on gene regulation

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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