Modification to Server Side Stop Order Processing

Please be advised that Sterling is making a modification in the processing of Server Side Stop Orders (S-STP). Effective Monday, July 18, 2005, election of the triggering price for server side stop orders will be performed between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Currently, price election has been taking place between 9:35 AM and 3:55 PM Eastern time.

This system change will allow traders to take advantage of the Server Side Stop Order processing on the Sterling system for the entire duration of the regular market hours. All other restrictions on the election of the triggering price will remain unchanged. Please refer to the New System Feature announcement titled “Server Side Stop-Loss Orders for Sterling Trade System” dated March 16, 2004, for the detailed description of the server stop order processing. You can find the announcement on Sterling ’s web site at www.sterlingfinancialsystems.com.