Russell 2000 Index Options (Russell.com)

Options Based on the Russell 2000 Achieve Volume Milestone

Boca Raton, Fl. — March 17, 2006 — Daily trading volume in options based on the small-cap Russell 2000® Index (symbol: RUT) for the first time surpassed trading volume for options based on the S&P 100 Index (OEX) as well as the Nasdaq 100 Index (NDX) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX).

Options contracts based on the Russell 2000, which are listed on AMEX, CBOE and ISE, totaled 58,183 on March 13. By comparison, options contracts based on the three other indexes totaled 44,679 for the OSE, 24,629 for the NDX and 17,462 for the DJX.

"This volume record is particularly noteworthy because the Russell 2000 reflects the relatively volatile small-cap marketplace," said Kelly Haughton, strategic director of Russell Indexes. "Our strategy to allow Russell index-based products to trade on various exchanges has extended Russell's objective index methodology to more sophisticated investors, and it's gratifying to see it working out so well."

In 2005, options contracts based on the Russell 2000 totaled 1,523,349, including a record volume in December with 232,540 contracts traded.

For data on options volume, one resource is www.optionsclearing.com. Additional details on Russell indexes are available at: www.russell.com/Indexes.

About Russell
Russell Investment Group, a global leader in multi-manager investing, provides investment products and services in 44 countries. Russell manages more than $155 billion in assets. Russell employs its indexes to objectively evaluate investment managers for multi-manager funds and other investment services. More than $3.8 trillion in assets are benchmarked to Russell indexes. Founded in 1936, Russell is a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual and is headquartered in Tacoma, Wash., with additional offices in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Sydney, Singapore, Auckland and Tokyo.

Contacts:
Steve Claiborne, 253-439-1858

Russell is known for its investment management, consulting and portfolio transition management expertise worldwide but investors should also be aware of the many exchange-traded products based on Russell's U.S. equity index family. These products are not distributed by Russell. You may find more information and purchasing capability via the various exchanges which sell them.

This is not an offer to sell, solicit or recommend the purchase of any service or product.

Russell Investment Group is a registered trade name of Frank Russell Company, a Washington, USA corporation, which operates through subsidiaries worldwide. Frank Russell Company is a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Frank Russell Company is the owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to its indexes.

Russell's indexes are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly.

RC#4386