ZURICH, August 4, 2004 – STOXX Ltd. today announced that it will adopt the Dow Jones Indexes/FTSE Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB) for all of its Dow Jones STOXX indexes in September.

ICB is the joint sector-classification system of Dow Jones Indexes and FTSE Group. In February 2004, Dow Jones Indexes and FTSE Group announced the merger of their sector-classification systems to create a single, seamless structure covering 50,000 companies globally.

The change will take place simultaneously with the annual Dow Jones STOXX blue-chip index review effective September 20. The results of the annual blue-chip review will be announced September 1.

The component selection lists that are used for the 2004 annual Dow Jones STOXX blue-chip index review will be based on the new ICB sector classification and will be published on August 4 on www.stoxx.com/info/reports/2004/icb_selection2004.html.
For increased transparency, STOXX Ltd. will continue providing the selection list using the existing sector classification until September 1.

"The ICB structure will be totally transparent and rules-based like the existing classification system and a company's sector classification will be based on its revenues. While the new and old systems are similar, ICB provides a more detailed breakdown at the fourth-sector level," said Lars Hamich, managing director of STOXX Ltd.

"A number of large stock exchanges worldwide will adopt this joint classification system," Mr. Hamich said. "Their adoption will be an important factor in the success of making this system widely accepted."

An analysis of the changes in the Dow Jones STOXX 600 sector index can be found on the STOXX Website under www.stoxx.com/info/news/2004/im_20040804_stoxx600.xls.

The ICB breakdown and its respective sector definitions are available on:
www.stoxx.com/indexes/sector_classification.html.

A complete file of all Dow Jones STOXX Total Market Index (TMI) components containing old and new sector assignments is now available on:
www.stoxx.com/info/news/2004/im_20040804_stoxxtmi.xls.

Journalists may e-mail questions regarding this press release to: PR-Indexes@dowjones.com or contact a member of the Dow Jones Indexes/STOXX public relations group:

New York
Sybille A. Reitz, +1-212-597-5735
Karishma Thakkar, +1-212-597-5718

Frankfurt:
Simona Deckers, +49-69-97142894
Stephanie Schleidt, +49-69-97142893