THE PHILADELPHIA STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO THE PHLX GOLD / SILVER SECTOR INDEX^SM (XAU^SM) STARTING FEBRUARY 9

PHILADELPHIA – February 6, 2006 - The Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX) announced today changes to the PHLX Gold / Silver Sector Index (XAU) effective before the open of business on Thursday, Feb 9, 2006. Bema Gold Corporation (BGO), Coeur D’Alene Mines Corporation (CDE), Randgold Resources Ltd. (GOLD), and Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) will be added while Placer Dome Inc. (PDG) will be deleted.

"XAU is the most actively traded Gold & Silver index for retail and institutional investors in the marketplace today as well as the seventh most traded index option in the US during 2005. Today's changes reflect a growing trend by Gold & Silver mining companies to allocate resources to properties for rehabilitation and full-scale exploration," said Daniel R. Carrigan, PHLX’s vice president of new product development. "The new components reflect leadership changes in the Gold & Silver industry on a geographic basis with penetration in Russia, Australia, South America and Eastern Europe,” added Carrigan.

The Philadelphia Stock Exchange was founded in 1790. The PHLX trades 2,000 stocks, 1,926 equity ptions, 21 sectors index options and currency options and futures. For more information about the PHLX and its products, visit www.phlx.com.

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