ISE Intl Secs Exchange Hldgs

The International Securities Exchange (NYSE: ISE) said today that its 1.5 billionth contract was traded on May 16, 2006. This trade, which was on the iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (IWM), occurred approximately one year after ISE traded its 1 billionth contract on May 24, 2005. ISE first began trading approximately six years ago, on May 26, 2000. "This trading record marks yet another milestone in ISE's history of innovation and leadership," said David Krell, President and Chief Executive Officer of ISE. "We believe the remarkable growth in options trading volume highlights the increasing use and importance of options as an effective trading tool for both institutional and retail investors to increase their returns, hedge their portfolios and manage investment risk through the use of multiple asset classes." ISE Background The International Securities Exchange (ISE) is an innovative securities market, founded on the principle that technology and competition create better, more efficient markets for investors. ISE is the largest equity options exchange and is among the leading options exchanges in the world. ISE developed a unique market structure for advanced screen-based trading systems and in May 2000 launched the first fully electronic US options exchange. The ISE Stock Exchange LLC will launch in the third quarter of 2006 with strategic partners, offering an innovative MidPoint Match platform, followed by a fully integrated displayed Best Bid Offer (BBO) market in the fourth quarter. ISE is also a majority owner of Longitude LLC, an innovative platform for events markets trading, and offers enhanced market data products for sophisticated investors. ISE continually enhances its trading systems and develops new products, including index options and market data, to provide investors with the best marketplace and investment tools to trade smarter. For more information about ISE, its options products and its technology, visit www.iseoptions.com and for more information about the ISE Stock Exchange LLC, visit www.isestock.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward looking statements." These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements, to be materially different from those contemplated by the forward looking statements. We undertake no ongoing obligation, other than that imposed by law, to update these statements. Factors that could affect our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements and cause them to materially differ from those contained in the forward looking statements can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our registration statement on Form S-1, current reports on Form 8-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as amended.