Officials at State Street Global Advisors said their new ETF offering, the SPDR S&P BRIC 40 ETF will begin trading on the AMEX June 22. The new fund seeks to track the S&P BRIC 40 index, the dominant BRIC benchmark for institutional mandates and includes 40 leading companies, representing the largest and most liquid securities in Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

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State Street Global Advisors (SSgA*), the investment management arm of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) and the largest institutional fund manager in the world¹, today announced that the SPDR® S&P® BRIC 40 ETF (Ticker: BIK) will begin trading on the American Stock Exchange (Amex) on June 22, 2007.

This new SPDR seeks to track the S&P BRIC 40 index, the dominant BRIC benchmark for institutional mandates and includes 40 leading companies, representing the largest and most liquid securities in Brazil, Russia, India, and China. All index holdings trade in developed market exchanges (Hong Kong Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and NYSE).

“The launch of SPDR S&P BRIC 40 ETF reflects the significant interest that we are seeing from financial advisors and institutional investors in this particular segment of emerging markets,” said James Ross, senior managing director of State Street Global Advisors. “In providing easy, low cost², precise exposure to the BRIC countries, it helps to diversify and expand our offering of emerging markets ETFs.”

Economists have highlighted Brazil, Russia, India and China for their potential global impact and predict that the BRIC countries could displace some of the most powerful developed nations as the world’s largest economies.

With an annual expense ratio of 0.40 percent³, the SPDR S&P BRIC 40 ETF complements State Street’s growing family of emerging markets SPDRs. In the first quarter of 2007, State Street launched six SPDRs emerging markets ETFs that deliver exposure to segments of the market that had previously been difficult to access. These funds include:

* SPDR S&P Emerging Markets ETF (GMM);
* SPDR S&P Emerging Latin America ETF (GML);
* SPDR S&P Emerging Middle East & Africa ETF (GAF);
* SPDR S&P Emerging Europe ETF (GUR);
* SPDR S&P Emerging Asia Pacific ETF (GMF); and
* SPDR S&P China ETF (GXC).


State Street manages more than $114 billion in ETF assets worldwide (as of March 31, 2007) and is one of the largest providers in the United States and globally, with a market share of nearly 20 percent. **

About State Street Global Advisors

State Street Global Advisors, the investment management arm of State Street Corporation, delivers investment strategies and integrated solutions to clients worldwide across every asset class, investment approach and style. With US$1.7 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2006, State Street Global Advisors has investment centers in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Milan, Montreal, Munich, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Zurich, and offices in 25 cities worldwide.

* The Funds are advised by SSgA Funds Management Inc., a registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation.

** Source: SSgA Advisor Consulting Services as of March 31, 2007

ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk and will fluctuate in market value.

Foreign investments involve greater risks than U.S. investments, including political and economic risks and the risk of currency fluctuations, all of which may be magnified in emerging markets.

Securities focused on a single country involve heightened risk and volatility.

The “SPDR” trademark is used under license from The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“McGraw-Hill”). No financial product offered by State Street Corporation or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by McGraw-Hill.

¹Source: Pensions & Investments magazine, based on assets under management as of December 31, 2006.

²Frequent trading of ETF’s could significantly increase commissions and other costs such that they may offset any savings from low fees or costs.

³The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and reimburse certain expenses, until June 19th, 2008, so that the Fund’s Net Annual and Operating Expenses are limited to 0.40% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Unless renewed prior the waiver expiration, the expense ratio will revert to 0.50%.

Distributor: State Street Global Markets, LLC, member NASD, SIPC.

Before investing, carefully consider the funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. A prospectus, which contains this and other important information about the fund can be obtained by calling 866.787.2257. Read it carefully before investing. 

Edited by: Erin Kello


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