American Stock Exchange News Release

Exchange Release
Media Contact: Mary Chung
American Stock Exchange
212-306-1641/mary.chung@amex.com

AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF THE MIDCAP SPDR
MidCap SPDR Assets Surpass $7billion with Average Daily Volume of 1.5 million shares
New York, May 4, 2005 -  The American Stock Exchange (Amex) announced today the 10-year anniversary of the popular exchange traded fund, the MidCap SPDR - Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Depositary Receipts (MidCap "Spider").

Since its launch on the Amex in 1995, the MidCap SPDR has seen assets surpass $7 billion and average trading volume rise to 1.5 million shares.

Neal L. Wolkoff, Amex Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are proud of our role in the creation and development of the MidCap SPDR. Product innovation is a hallmark of the American Stock Exchange and we are pleased to have contributed to the success of this important ETF product."

The American Stock Exchange pioneered the concept of exchange traded funds in 1993 with the introduction of trading in the SPDR - Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts ("Spider") based on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Two years later, the Amex partnered with Standard & Poor's and The Bank of New York to launch the MidCap SPDR. Today, the Amex lists 155 ETFs, with combined assets in the funds approaching $200 billion.

Gerald L. Hassell, President of The Bank of New York, said, "The MidCap SPDR is an excellent example of the American Stock Exchange's proven ability to deliver high-quality, low-cost and transparent investment vehicles for retail and institutional investors alike. We value the partnership with Amex and Standard & Poor's and look forward to delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of the world's rapidly evolving financial markets."

"Before Standard & Poor's MidCap Index, investors rarely talked about MidCap Stocks," said David Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor's. "With the SPDR, Standard & Poor's helped put the MidCap on the map and inside investors' dictionaries."

In celebration of the MidCap SPDR's 10 years in the investment world, the Amex will hold special events marking the anniversary, including a special bell ringing ceremony.

An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment company carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, go to www.MidCapSPDR.com or call 1-800-THE AMEX. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Ordinary brokerage commissions apply.

ALPS Distributors, Inc. a registered broker-dealer, is distributor for the MidCapSPDR Trust, a unit investment trust.

About American Stock Exchange

The American Stock Exchange® (Amex®) is the only primary exchange that offers trading across a full range of equities, options and exchange traded funds (ETFs), including structured products and HOLDRSSM. In addition to its role as a national equities market, the Amex is the pioneer of the ETF, responsible for bringing the first domestic product to market in 1993. Leading the industry in ETF listings, the Amex lists 155 ETFs to date. The Amex is also one of the largest options exchanges in the U.S., trading options on broad-based and sector indexes as well as domestic and foreign stocks.

About Standard & Poor's

Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world's foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research, data and valuations. With 6,000 employees located in 21 countries, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for more than 140 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit www.standardandpoors.com.

About The Bank of New York

The Bank of New York Company, Inc. (NYSE: BK) is a global leader in providing a comprehensive array of services that enable institutions and individuals to move and manage their financial assets in more than 100 markets worldwide. The Company has a long tradition of collaborating with clients to deliver innovative solutions through its core competencies: securities servicing, treasury management, investment management, and individual & regional banking services. The Company's extensive global client base includes a broad range of leading financial institutions, corporations, government entities, endowments and foundations. Its principal subsidiary, The Bank of New York, founded in 1784, is the oldest bank in the United States and has consistently played a prominent role in the evolution of financial markets worldwide. Additional information is available at www.bankofny.com.