Frequently Asked Questions About the TSC E-Finance Index

For more information about TheStreet.com's indices, please see Frequently Asked Questions About the TSC Internet Sector Index and Frequently Asked Questions About the TSC E-Commerce Index.

What is TheStreet.com E-Finance Index?

TheStreet.com E-Finance Index is an index that tracks the stock performance of a group of online banking, brokerage and transaction companies. It is neither a mutual fund nor a stock.

What is the ticker symbol for TheStreet.com E-Finance Index?

The ticker symbol is XEF. Quotes are available through TheStreet.com's Tools/Quotes section under the symbol XEF^X.

What is an index?

Similar to the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the Russell 2000, TheStreet.com's indices measure the average performance of a group of stocks, in this case in a certain part of the economy. TheStreet.com E-Finance index tracks the average value of a basket of e-finance stocks.

Do any mutual funds track TheStreet.com E-Finance Index?

No index funds currently track TheStreet.com E-Finance Index, but options based on the index will be available in the summer of 1999.

How do I find more information about options based on TheStreet.com E-Finance Index?

Your broker/dealer will be able to help you find more information about the options, which will trade on the American Stock Exchange. You can reach the Amex on the Web at www.amex.com. TheStreet.com is not involved in the trading of the options and makes no profit from options trades.

Which companies make up TheStreet.com E-Finance Index?

TheStreet.com E-Finance Index is an equal-weighted measure of these 11 prominent e-finance players, which generate much of their revenue from online brokerage, online banking or online transaction services:

Ameritrade (AMTD Quote)

CheckFree Holdings (CKFR Quote)

CyberCash (CYCH Quote)

DLJdirect Inc. (DIR Quote)

E*Trade (EGRP Quote)

E-Loan Inc. (NITE Quote)

Intuit Inc. (INTU Quote)

Knight/Trimark Group (NITE Quote)

Mortgage.com Inc. (MDCM Quote)

National Discount Brokers (NDB Quote)

Net.B@nk (NTBK Quote)

NextCard (NXCD Quote)

S1 (SONE Quote)

The Charles Schwab Group (SCH Quote)

TD Waterhouse (TWE Quote)

Wit Capital Group (WITC Quote)

The list and number of companies are subject to change at any time. They will be reviewed periodically to ensure that they continue to represent the e-finance sector accurately.

What is the relationship of TheStreet.com E-Finance Index and TheStreet.com Internet Sector index?

TheStreet.com E-Finance Index is a complement to TheStreet.com Internet Sector index, not a replacement for it. TheStreet.com Internet Sector index is an index of 20 Internet stocks, traded on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange under the symbol DOT. The DOT includes many types of Internet companies that are not part of the XEF. E-finance companies are one part of the Internet sector, and we feel TheStreet.com E-Finance Index will be a good benchmark for the performance of e-finance companies, while the DOT will continue to represent the performance of the broader Internet sector.

Does TheStreet.com recommend that I invest in these index options, or in the companies that make up TheStreet.com E-Finance Index?

TheStreet.com does not make investment recommendations of any kind. Performance of TheStreet.com E-Finance Index has recently been more volatile than many other segments of the economy. Investing in index options like this one involves substantial risks, and individual investors in index options may be in direct competition with professional investors. For individual investors, the index may be more useful as a source of information than a direct trading opportunity. More information about some of the unique risks inherent in trading index options can be found at http://www.optionsclearing.com/publications/riskstock/riskchap10.htm.

What other resources are available on TSC and elsewhere on the Web?

More information on options is available in TSC's Investing Basics section, the TSC Options Forum, which appears Saturdays, and the daily TSC Options Buzz column.

More information about options can also be found at the American Stock Exchange site, and the Options Industry Council's resource page.

What does a TheStreet.com E-Finance Index quote mean in relative terms?

For comparison, the index was created with a base value of 100 on May 21, 1999.