The professional money management industry has demonstrated support for the Russell 2000 Index as one of the benchmarks for large cap U.S. stocks. Its objective criteria and regular reconstitution (annually in June) have moved some money managers away from their reliance on the better known, but more subjective and less inclusive, S&P 500. The growing professional endorsement of the index has also translated into important institutional participation in the Russell 2000 futures and options markets. The Russell 2000 total open interest regularly exceeds 8,000 contracts. In addition, major market makers have maintained a consistent presence in the trading ring, allowing the market to post competitive bid/offer spreads. NYSE's recent commencement of off-floor block trading for the Russell 2000 futures and options contracts, as well as in the NYSE Composite contracts is a further indication of the value of these contracts to the institutional user.

Russell 2000 Index Component Stocks

Russell 2000 Derivatives & Commodity Futures

Professional managers, investors and analysts offer very positive assessments of the role and value of the Russell 2000 Index and its derivative counterpart. On a February 7, 2001, NYBOT Live on the Web program ("Using Derivatives in Market Analysis"), Sabrina Callin, Vice President of PIMCO, expressed support for the Russell 2000 as the preferred U.S. large cap benchmark and satisfaction with the Russell 2000 futures market. She stated that it demonstrated "very attractive liquidity."

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