Conference Board LEI for Korea increased slightly in January, and it has been on an upward trend for a year. This month, gains in letter of credit arrivals and real exports more than offset the large negative contributions from stock prices and the (inverted) index of inventories to shipments. The leading economic index increased by 7.1 percent (about a 14.7 percent annual rate) in the six-month period ending in January 2010, slightly higher than the increase of 5.9 percent (about a 12.2 percent annual rate) for the previous six months ending in July 2009. In addition, the strengths among the leading indicators have remained widespread in recent months.

The Conference Board CEI for Korea, a measure of current economic activity, declined in January for the first time since December 2008. The wholesale and retail sales component, industrial production, and total employment all made large negative contributions to the index this month. With the decline in January, the six-month growth rate of the coincident economic index continued to slow — to 1.7 percent (about a 3.5 percent annual rate), down from 3.7 percent (about a 7.6 percent annual rate) for the previous six months. At the same time, real GDP growth also slowed substantially, to 0.7 percent (annual rate) in the fourth quarter of 2009, following the rapid increases of 13.6 percent (annual rate) in the third quarter and the 5.6 percent average annual rate in the first half of the year.

The Conference Board LEI for Korea has been on an upward trend for a year now, and is back to its July 2008 level. Meanwhile, The Conference Board CEI for Korea declined this month, and its six-month growth rate has continued to slow. Taken together, the current behavior of the composite indexes and their components suggests that economic activity will continue to improve, but perhaps at a modest pace in the near term.

LEADING INDICATORS. Four of the seven components that make up The Conference Board LEI for Korea increased in January. The positive contributors — from the largest positive contributor to the smallest — were letter of credit arrivals, real exports FOB, private construction orders*, and value of machinery orders*. Negative contributors — from the largest negative contributor to the smallest — were stock prices, the (inverted) index of inventories to shipments, and the (inverted) yield of government public bonds.

With the 0.3 percent increase in January, The Conference Board LEI for Korea now stands at 114.7 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index increased 2.1 percent in December and increased 1.8 percent in November. During the six-month span through January, the leading economic index increased 7.1 percent, with five of the seven components advancing (diffusion index, six-month span equals 85.7 percent).

COINCIDENT INDICATORS. Only one of the four components that make up The Conference Board CEI for Korea increased in January. The positive contributor was monthly cash earnings. The wholesale and retail sales component, industrial production and total employment declined in January.

With the 0.4 percent decrease in January, The Conference Board CEI for Korea now stands at 110.6 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index increased 0.3 percent in December and increased 0.9 percent in November. During the six-month span through January, the coincident economic index increased 1.7 percent, with three of the four components advancing (diffusion index, six-month span equals 75.0 percent).

DATA AVAILABILITY. The data series used to compute The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for Korea reported in this release are those available "as of" 10 A.M. (ET) on March 10, 2010.

* The series in the coincident economic index based on The Conference Board's estimates is monthly cash earnings. The series in the leading economic index based on The Conference Board's estimates are private construction orders and value of machinery orders.

Semiconductor SectorSM index (SOX) have been introduced today by Direxion Shares. The new ETFs are leveraged Bull and Bear index funds that seek 300% of the daily performance, or 300% of the inverse of the daily performance (before fees and expenses), of the PHLX Semiconductor Sector index, the most widely recognized index investors use to track the semiconductor industry.

"The PHLX Semiconductor Sector index provides broad exposure to an industry that is increasingly tied to the global economy," said John Jacobs, Executive Vice President, NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group. "With the launch of these ETFs, investors can now employ new investment strategies involving some of the world's most innovative companies that often drive the broader technology industry."

On March 11, the following ETFs that offer leveraged long and short exposure to the PHLX Semiconductor Sector index began trading:

 --  Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL)

 --  Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3X Shares (SOXS)

"Direxion is a leader in delivering innovative investment solutions that provide magnified exposure to a spectrum of specific industry sectors, on both the long and short end," stated Dan O'Neill, Direxion Shares' President. "We are pleased to introduce our new Semiconductor 3x ETFs, which reflect our commitment to serving sophisticated investors with tactical investment tools amid changing market conditions."

The PHLX Semiconductor Sector index is a modified capitalization-weighted index composed of companies primarily involved in the design, distribution, manufacture, and sale of semiconductors. To view a complete list of component companies, visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/weighting.aspx?IndexSymbol=SOX&menuIndex=0.

NASDAQ OMX is a global leader in creating and licensing strategy indexes and is home to the most widely watched indexes in the world. As a premier, full-service provider, the NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group is dedicated to designing powerful indexes that are in sync with a continually changing market environment. Utilizing its expanded coverage as a global company, NASDAQ OMX has approximately 1,400 diverse equity, commodity and fixed-income indexes in the U.S., Europe, and throughout the world.

NASDAQ OMX's calculation, design, licensing and marketing support provide the tools to measure and replicate global markets. The NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group's range of services covers the entire business process from index design to calculation and dissemination. For more information about NASDAQ OMX indexes, visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/.

Access to essential historical index data for NASDAQ OMX indexes can be accessed from a single source, NASDAQ OMX Global Index Watch. For additional information, please visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/indexwatch.aspx.

“Company”) at $8.85 per warrant. The aggregate net proceeds to Treasury from the offering are expected to be $6,559,066. These proceeds provide an additional return to the American taxpayer from Treasury’s investment in the Company beyond the dividend payments it received on the related preferred stock.

The closing is expected to occur on or about March 17, 2010, subject to customary closing conditions. The offering was priced through a modified Dutch auction. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is the sole book-running manager for the offering. This offering represents Treasury’s sale of its remaining investment in the Company.

The warrants were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement that was filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering was filed with the SEC on March 8, 2010, and a final prospectus supplement will be filed by the Company with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Copies of the final prospectus supplement relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, from Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Prospectus Department, Harborside Financial Center, 100 Plaza One, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311-3988, telephone: 1-800-503-4611 or by emailing prospectusrequest@list.db.com. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and prospectus supplement in the registration statement and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the warrants.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Virginia, after a federal court held at hearing where the defendant also appeared.

The order, arising from a CFTC anti-fraud enforcement action against Smith filed on February 23, 2010, continues the asset freeze the court entered against Smith at the outset of the CFTC’s action. The order also prohibits Smith from further violations of federal commodities law. Chief Judge James P. Jones of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia entered the order on March 5, 2010.

The CFTC’s complaint charges Smith with fraudulently soliciting at least $800,000 from customers and misappropriating customer funds in an off-exchange foreign currency (forex) scam. The complaint also charges Smith with issuing false statements to customers to conceal the fraudulent misuse of funds. (See CFTC Press Release 5734-10, February 26, 2010, and CFTC v. Ronald W. Smith, Jr. et al., No. 1:10CV00009 [W.D. Va. 2010].)

In its continuing litigation against Smith, the CFTC seeks restitution, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil monetary penalties and a permanent injunction.

The following CFTC Division of Enforcement staff are responsible of this case: August A. Imholtz III, Kara Mucha, James Garcia, Kassra Goudarzi, Michelle Bougas, Michael Solinsky, Gretchen L. Lowe and Phyllis J. Cela.

was 475,500, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week's revised average of 470,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Feb. 27, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Feb. 27 was 4,558,000, an increase of 37,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 4,521,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,581,000, unchanged from the preceding week's revised average of 4,581,000.

The fiscal year-to-date average of seasonally adjusted weekly insured unemployment, which corresponds to the appropriated AWIU trigger, was 5.170 million.  

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 460,287 in the week ending March 6, a decrease of 10,969 from the previous week. There were 652,636 initial claims in the comparable week in 2009.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.2 percent during the week ending Feb. 27, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 5,528,856, a decrease of 68,281 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 4.8 percent and the volume was 6,361,354.

Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending Feb. 20.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,290 in the week ending Feb. 27, an increase of 93 from the prior week. There were 2,335 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 388 from the preceding week.

There were 22,955 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 20, a decrease of 822 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 36,585, an increase of 1,113 from the prior week.

States reported 5,527,925 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Feb. 20, a decrease of 159,649 from the prior week. There were 2,068,413 claimants in the comparable week in 2009. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 20 were in Alaska (7.4 percent), Oregon (6.4), Idaho (6.3), Pennsylvania (6.2), Wisconsin (6.2), Montana (6.1), Puerto Rico (6.0), Michigan (5.7), Nevada (5.6), and Rhode Island (5.6).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 27 were in California (+16,112), New York (+12,263), Florida (+2,516), Texas (+1,440), and Nevada (+947), while the largest decreases were in Pennsylvania (-4,772), Massachusetts (-4,504), New Jersey (-3,972), Kentucky (-3,633), and Missouri (-1,661).

offering of shares of its class of unrestricted common stock.  The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.  The shares of unrestricted common stock to be sold in this offering are proposed to be sold by CBOE Holdings and/or certain stockholders.   CBOE Holdings will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders.

CBOE Holdings intends for the proposed offering to take place concurrently with the proposed demutualization of Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated, currently the parent corporation of CBOE Holdings.  Subject to a vote by the members of CBOE in favor of demutualization, CBOE Holding’s and CBOE’s goal is to complete both the demutualization and the IPO by the end of the second quarter of 2010.  It is the intention of CBOE Holdings to use the net proceeds from the shares sold by the company for general corporate purposes, including the repurchase of shares of the common stock to be issued to CBOE members in the demutualization and to members of the settlement class who will be receiving stock under the settlement agreement in the exercise right litigation between CBOE and former members of the Chicago Board of Trade.

The sole global coordinator of the offering will be Goldman, Sachs & Co. This offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the preliminary prospectus, when available, may be obtained by contacting Goldman, Sachs & Co., 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004, Attention: Prospectus Department (Phone: +1 866 471 2526; Fax: +1 212 902 9316; e-mail: prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.)  A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

warrant. The aggregate net proceeds to Treasury from the offering are expected to be $11,150,940. These proceeds provide an additional return to the American taxpayer from Treasury’s investment in the Bank beyond the dividend payments it received on the related preferred stock.

The closing is expected to occur on or about March 16, 2010, subject to customary closing conditions. The offering was priced through a modified Dutch auction. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is the sole book-running manager for the offering. This offering represents Treasury’s sale of its remaining investment in the Bank.

The warrants were exempted securities under Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and were offered pursuant to an offering circular that was not required to be filed with the SEC. These securities are not deposits and are neither insured nor approved by the FDIC. A preliminary offering circular relating to the offering was made available on March 8, 2010 on Signature Bank’s website at http://www.signatureny.com, and a final offering circular will be made available on the same website. The offering of the warrants may be made only by means of an offering circular. The Bank’s principal executive offices are located at 565 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10017.

Copies of the final offering circular relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, from Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Prospectus Department, Harborside Financial Center, 100 Plaza One, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311-3988, telephone: 1-800-503-4611 or by emailing prospectusrequest@list.db.com. Before you invest, you should read the offering circular and other documents the Bank has filed with the FDIC and posted on its website for more complete information about the Bank and the warrants.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

warrant. The aggregate net proceeds to Treasury from the offering are expected to be $11,150,940. These proceeds provide an additional return to the American taxpayer from Treasury’s investment in the Bank beyond the dividend payments it received on the related preferred stock.

The closing is expected to occur on or about March 16, 2010, subject to customary closing conditions. The offering was priced through a modified Dutch auction. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is the sole book-running manager for the offering. This offering represents Treasury’s sale of its remaining investment in the Bank.

The warrants were exempted securities under Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and were offered pursuant to an offering circular that was not required to be filed with the SEC. These securities are not deposits and are neither insured nor approved by the FDIC. A preliminary offering circular relating to the offering was made available on March 8, 2010 on Signature Bank’s website at http://www.signatureny.com, and a final offering circular will be made available on the same website. The offering of the warrants may be made only by means of an offering circular. The Bank’s principal executive offices are located at 565 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10017.

Copies of the final offering circular relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, from Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Prospectus Department, Harborside Financial Center, 100 Plaza One, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311-3988, telephone: 1-800-503-4611 or by emailing prospectusrequest@list.db.com. Before you invest, you should read the offering circular and other documents the Bank has filed with the FDIC and posted on its website for more complete information about the Bank and the warrants.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

resulted in a goods and services deficit of $37.3 billion, down from $39.9

billion in December, revised.  January exports were $0.5 billion less than December exports of $143.2 billion. January imports were $3.1 billion less than December imports of $183.1 billion.

In January, the goods deficit decreased $2.5 billion from December to $49.4 billion, and the services surplus increased $0.1 billion to $12.1 billion.  Exports of goods decreased $0.7 billion to $98.4 billion, and imports of goods decreased $3.2 billion to $147.8 billion. Exports of services increased $0.2 billion to  $44.3 billion, and imports of services increased $0.1 billion to $32.2 billion.

In January, the goods and services deficit increased $0.4 billion from January 2009.  Exports were up $18.7 billion, or 15.1 percent, and imports were up $19.1 billion, or 11.9 percent.

The full text of the release on BEA's website can be found at

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/international/trade/tradnewsrelease.htm  

active financial services income for one year until December 31, 2010. This provision was included in H.R. 4213 as a component of a series of tax provisions that had expired at the end of 2009.

Ralph Petta, Interim President, ELFA, said, “The active financing rule addresses concerns about U.S. competitiveness and fairness by applying to our financial services companies the same general U.S. rule that defers current U.S. tax on other active trade or business income.  Like their foreign-based competitors, our financial services firms—including manufacturers and leasing companies—will only pay a current tax in the country where their foreign operations are located.”

This extension benefits U.S. leasing companies as it maintains a level playing field with foreign competitors. For example, a multi-year equipment lease may run five to seven years and be priced to reflect the active financing provision in current law.  Without this provision, U.S. lessors would need to charge a higher rent reflecting the increased tax cost that would arise. The expiration of this provision would have had serious competitive consequences and this action represents a strong commitment by the Congress to assist U.S. companies to compete in international markets.”

Contract Market pending ) in the US to offer futures contracts based on domestic box office receipts. The company’s boutique electronic futures exchange and innovative contracts are expected to meet the needs of media and entertainment companies for the 21st century.

“We are very pleased to announce The Trend Exchange” stated founder and CEO Robert S. Swagger. “Our team has recognized that until now, the opportunity to successfully design and launch such an exchange has not existed; but soon, the film financing industry can benefit from our offering- a solution where demand has significantly increased in part due to the global economic crisis.” Swagger believes that TrendEx represents a new era of opportunity in the futures industry and for Hollywood. “By offering speculators and hedgers a market-based solution to transfer the considerable financial risks associated with major movie productions, The Trend Exchange will perform the same public service that futures exchanges have been providing to commercial users for nearly two hundred years.”

“The business of making movies has changed drastically in the past two decades” stated Ralph Winter, well known producer of films such as X-Men, Wolverine and Star Trek (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003515/), “Being a producer in today’s marketplace requires attracting production capital much like the farmers and ranchers did in the last century. I’ve enjoyed being a part of the vision that Rob and his team have developed for The Trend Exchange.”

P. Clark Hallren, Managing Partner of entertainment advisory firm Clear Scope Partners and a 23 year veteran of JPMorgan Chase’s film finance group believes that “A product like what is being provided by The Trend Exchange is precisely what is needed to allow investors or operators to manage the complex risks of the entertainment industry. Applied prudently by sophisticated parties, the volatility of film performance could be more easily managed, thereby making the business more attractive to all parties.”

The approval of the exchange by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) is anticipated by March 24. The announcement was made in conjunction with the annual Futures Industry Association (FIA) Conference March 10-13 in Boca Raton.

The Trend Exchange has been privately funded by Veriana (veriana.com). Its directors and advisors include prominent members of the entertainment and financial services industries. In addition, the exchange’s senior management is comprised of many well known professionals from the Chicago futures and options exchange community as well as the entertainment industry.

Swagger said the name is based, in part, on a phrase quoted by professional traders and marketers for generations, “The trend is your friend” whereby participants recognize and take positions based on research and analysis of events.

“The Trend Exchange is an innovator and leader within the futures industry” shared Patrick Catania, a 40 year futures industry veteran and former executive with the Chicago Board of Trade.  “I’m pleased to be working with a team that is effectively redefining a trend by offering futures contracts and a trading marketplace for industries that are currently under-served and would benefit from effective price discovery and risk management tools.”

Swagger said TrendEx is operationally prepared, and its staff is working with partners and market participants to ensure a smooth launch of live trading later this year. All aspects of the exchange’s market structure have been designed for institutional investors and follow the traditional methodologies utilized within the industry. Entrance to the platform must come through a qualified futures commission merchant.

“The Trend Exchange is an entrepreneurial exchange with deep relationships in the entertainment industry, the futures industry and academia,” stated Alice Neuhauser, Principle at CRM and highly experienced in the film financing industry, including well known large independently financed films such as Terminator 2 and Cliffhanger in addition to her success in developing LA’s first full-service production facility in over 50 years through a partnership with Roy Disney’s Shamrock Holdings. “The company aims to infuse a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation into its products and markets to best serve its customers.”

By targeting institutional investors, the exchange elevates the commercial value of its contracts, curbing the speculative nature inherent in products that are primarily retail-focused. “Let us be very clear from the outset. The economic purpose of The Trend Exchange is risk management. The primary participants in our markets will be commercial users and professional traders.” Swagger said.  

The Trend Exchange’s corporate offices are located in Scottsdale, AZ with an exchange operations office in Chicago. Trading rules and operations will be consistent with those of established futures and options exchanges, including post-trade clearing and settlement, and will be subject to oversight by the CFTC. Swagger states that one of the many successes of TrendEx is the partnerships the company has established. Such partners include the intermediary brokerage firms that meet federal capital requirements who will execute trades as well as the Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX), a nearly 130 year old exchange that will act as a third party to clear and settle trades. “It has been a pleasure to work with The Trend Exchange team” said Mark Bagan, CEO of MGEX “We look forward to building our partnership with TrendEx in bringing these new products to market.”

The company plans to provide greater details regarding its partnerships and products following the final approval of its exchange and products by the CFTC later this month.

Statistics reported today. Over the year, jobless rates increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The national unemployment rate fell from 10.0 percent in December to 9.7 percent in January, but was up from 7.7 percent a year earlier.

In January, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 31 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 18 states, and remained unchanged in 1 state. The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in California (+32,500), followed by Illinois (+26,000), New York (+25,500), Washington (+18,900), and Minnesota (+15,600). The District of Columbia experienced the largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment (+1.0 percent), followed by Alaska (+0.9 percent), Washington (+0.7 percent), Minnesota and Utah (+0.6 percent each), and Illinois (+0.5 percent). The largest over-the-month decreases in employment occurred in Missouri and Ohio (-12,800 each), followed by Kentucky (-11,800), New Jersey (-9,100), Florida (-6,100), and Nevada (-5,700). Kentucky (-0.7 percent) experienced the largest over-the- month percentage decrease in employment, followed by Missouri and Nevada (-0.5 percent each), and Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi, and Ohio (-0.3 percent each). Over the year, nonfarm employment decreased in 48 states and increased in 2 states and the District of Columbia. The largest over-the-year percentage decreases occurred in Nevada (-6.9 percent), Arizona (-5.4 percent), Wyoming (-5.0 percent), and California (-4.8 percent).

(For full report, go to: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.toc.htm.)

Related Agencies. Secretary Solis presented the department's fiscal year 2011 budget request and highlighted why the funding is vital to the nation's ongoing economic recovery.

"This administration wants to ensure that investments in job creation will continue until the labor market fully recovers from the economic downturn," said Secretary Solis. "Workers and their families are hurting in these tough economic times. We know that job opportunities and economic security are of utmost importance to Americans."

Last summer, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created more than 300,000 summer jobs for at-risk youth. Local areas can expand the program to create up to 350,000 jobs this summer, providing work experience to help young people build their futures and income their families can use in a weak economy. This goal can be accomplished with an additional investment of $1.2 billion investment in summer and youth employment, including $150 million for competitive grants. The department also supports an additional $500 million to expand on-the-job training, refresh the skills of the long-term unemployed and link them to real employment opportunities as the economy rebounds.

The administration supports an additional $300 million to continue two Recovery Act programs. This funding includes $225 million for Pathways Out of Poverty Grants and $75 million for Energy Training Partnerships. The department received many more quality applications than it could fund. These additional resources would allow the department to quickly fund these high-quality programs.

The total request for the department in fiscal year 2011 is $116.5 billion and 17,800 full-time equivalent employees. The Labor Department's budget request will build on $4.8 billion in discretionary funding as well as the mandatory resources included for the department in the Recovery Act.

To review the department's full 2011 budget request, visit http://www.dol.gov/budget/. Secretary Solis' testimony is available at http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/congress/20100310_appropriations.htm.

Natural Resources and Environment mission area, will work to carry out USDA's climate and rural revitalization goals by supporting the development of emerging markets for carbon, water quality, wetlands and biodiversity.

"Environmental markets leverage private investments that result in cleaner air, improved water quality, restored wetlands, and enhanced wildlife habitat," said Vilsack. "These markets have the potential to become a new economic driver for rural America, exactly what we need to support a bold, creative future for America's farmers, ranchers and rural communities."

The 2008 Farm Bill's Conservation Title directs the Secretary to facilitate the development of environmental markets and ensure the participation of America's farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. As set forth by Congress in the Farm Bill, OEM will work across government and in consultation with experts and stakeholders to build a market-based system for quantifying, registering, and verifying environmental benefits produced by land management activities.

"Over the past several years, USDA has seen great advances in ecosystem services research and market potential," said Harris Sherman, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. "We will build on this innovation and coordinate across USDA and with our partners to develop these promising new markets."

In addition to OEM, USDA's NRE mission area oversees the USDA Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

them to estate planning seminars and later coaxing them to buy promissory notes for purported Turkish investments.

The SEC alleges that USA Retirement Management Services (USARMS) and managing partners Francois E. Durmaz and Robert C. Pribilski mass-mailed promotional materials to prospective investors and invited them to estate planning seminars held at country clubs and banquet halls. They gained retirees' confidence in follow-up meetings and portrayed themselves as educated and experienced in foreign investments specifically tailored to the needs of seniors. Durmaz and Pribilski then pitched what they represented as safe, guaranteed investments in "Turkish Eurobonds" through the purchase of USARMS promissory notes that would earn annual returns between 8 and 11 percent.

The SEC alleges that USARMS raised at least $20 million from more than 120 investors, but did not actually invest the money in Turkish Eurobonds as promised. Instead, returns were paid to earlier investors with funds received from new investors in Ponzi-like fashion. Durmaz and Pribilski further misused investor funds to finance their other businesses and purchase such things as luxury automobiles, homes, vacations, and web-based pornography. They also wired investor money into bank accounts belonging to individuals living in Turkey who are named as relief defendants in the SEC's case.

"Durmaz and Pribilski used estate planning seminars as a means to elicit investor trust and lure retirees into investing in a classic Ponzi scheme," said Rosalind R. Tyson, Director of the SEC's Los Angeles Regional Office.

USARMS and its securities are not registered with the SEC. USARMS is incorporated in Illinois and has offices in Los Angeles; Irvine, Calif.; and Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Durmaz resides in Los Angeles and Streamwood, Ill., and Pribilski resides in Lisle, Ill. Neither of them is registered with the SEC in any capacity nor do they hold any securities licenses.

According to the SEC's complaint, filed on March 9 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Durmaz and other USARMS employees provided seminar attendees a general presentation on estate planning and later sent them a letter inviting them to their offices for a personal consultation "to explain the amazing steps you must take when you set up a Living Trust or Will."

The SEC alleges that once seminar attendees went to their estate planning appointments, Durmaz examined their personal financial information and told prospective investors that they had issued hundreds of millions of dollars in USARMS promissory notes. In addition, Durmaz falsely claimed that he held a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and was a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). Thus, prospective investors were led to believe that Durmaz was educated and experienced in investments specifically tailored to the needs of seniors and retirees.

The Honorable George H. Wu, U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California, granted the SEC's request for emergency relief for investors on March 9, including an order temporarily enjoining defendants from future violations of the antifraud provisions and freezing their assets. Judge Wu also granted the SEC's request for emergency relief against relief defendants Sibel Ince, Marlali Gayrimenkul Yatirimlari, Mehmet Karakus, Marlali Property Investment Company, LLC, and Gulen Enterprises, Inc.

today.

"When the world emerges from the depths of the worst recession in two generations, it will certainly be a different and more difficult place to effectively manage a corporate brand," says John Dodds, director, Global Brand and Communications, Air Products, and chair of The Conference Board Council of Corporate Brand Management. "Companies simply won't be able to do things the way they always have. But they can succeed by adapting their brand strategy to reflect what changes the recession has brought to their business and what it might mean for customers. This will poise them for growth when the economy rebounds."

The global recession coupled with cases of unethical corporate behavior worldwide have eroded trust in business, and consequently, in corporate brands, according to the report, Corporate Brands — Meeting the Challenges of Changing Times, part of the Council Perspectives series. Moving forward, the operating landscape, or "the new normal," will be characterized by consumers who are much more educated buyers and have much less brand loyalty or trust than they used to.

Technology has also made the world a much "smaller" place and brands need to focus heavily on translating internationally. Everyone seems to have access to a website or social media network where they can write-often critically-about any company, product, or service of their choice, the report states.

In previous downturns, smart companies successfully positioned themselves and their brands to emerge stronger, healthier and more primed for growth than when the economic downturn began, says James Andrews of Boston Consulting, a guest presenter to the Council, citing as an example how, in the wake of World War I, DuPont eventually outpaced competitors by focusing on a few key strong products and investing heavily in R&D.

Equally, he added, there are many examples from today and yesterday of companies that were distracted by profit worries or product recalls and lost sight of their brands, suffering dramatically.

Marketers need to monetize the conversation, highlighting to their CEOs the link between the brand and revenue and customer preservation, according to Jeffrey Burchill, CFO of FM Global, who addressed the Council as a guest. Although the C-suite and the board of directors instinctively know there is positive value in corporate name recognition and a strong brand, they are unsure how that relates to the bottom line.

Branding professionals' mindsets need to be about strategy and impact related to revenue and customer retention in the short term and potential growth in the long term. "Talk the language that the C-suite and especially the CFO understands, not the jargon of marketing and brand positioning," says Burchill.

"Building an internal brand culture is as critical as building a strong, external one," says Dodds. "The corporate brand is not only used to improve competitive positioning and express company aspirations, it can be a powerful tool to motivate employees, who act as the brand embodiment when dealing with customers."

The Conference Board Council on Corporate Brand Management, founded in 1999, is a forum for off-the-record discussions focused on key branding issues and state-of-the-art management practices. Through the exchange of ideas and knowledge, the group seeks to enhance the professional development of its members and improve the corporate brand management function. Members also advise The Conference Board on its communications research and meeting program.

firms, said today that it is alerting international regulators about a "look-alike" Web site for a fictitious organization that is mimicking the SIPC Web site in an apparent attempt to target Madoff victims.

The so-called "International Securities Investor Protection Corporation (I-SIPC.com)" copies several aspects of the SIPC Web site artwork and structural design.  It is soliciting Madoff victims to submit claims, which SIPC is warning could result in "phishing" or other identify theft problems.

The phony group claims to be based in Geneva and also maintains that it has ties to the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund, among others.

In one section of the Web site, the group includes a supposed testimonial from a Madoff victim who is reported as having received funds from the

organization.   In a link from the homepage of the site that leads to a

photo of a huge stack of U.S. currency, the group falsely claims to have collaborated with Interpol to recover $1.3 billion in Madoff money from a hideout in Malaysia.

SIPC President Stephen Harbeck said: "We know from information provided to us by individuals that this bogus group is already attempting to obtain funds and confidential financial information from investors in the U.S.

SIPC wants to be as clear as possible that Madoff victims and other investors should not share any personal financial information via this Web site or rely upon it as an information source. We intend to use every available means to shut down this illicit operation."

Harbeck said that SIPC recently became an ancillary member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and will publish a related Investor Alert through that organization.

SIPC is looking into trademark issues and will seek to have the violator prosecuted to the extent the law allows.

SIPC has moved aggressively in the past to protect its trademark and Web site against similar intrusions that could be used to mislead or even swindle investors.  In 2004, SIPC got law enforcement involved when it identified a "look-alike" Web site seeking to defraud investors.  In 2007, SIPC prevailed in arbitration proceedings after an organization sought to register and use the www.sipc.com Web domain.

"Company") at $9.15 per warrant. The aggregate net proceeds to Treasury from the offering are expected to be $15,388,874. These proceeds provide an additional return to the American taxpayer from Treasury's investment in the Company beyond the dividend payments it received on the related preferred stock.

The closing is expected to occur on or about March 15, 2010, subject to customary closing conditions. The offerings were priced through a modified Dutch auction. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is the sole book-running manager for the offering. This offering represents Treasury's sale of its remaining investment in the Company.

The warrants were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement that was filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering was filed with the SEC on March 8, 2010, and a final prospectus supplement will be filed by the Company with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

today.

"When the world emerges from the depths of the worst recession in two generations, it will certainly be a different and more difficult place to effectively manage a corporate brand," says John Dodds, director, Global Brand and Communications, Air Products, and chair of The Conference Board Council of Corporate Brand Management. "Companies simply won't be able to do things the way they always have. But they can succeed by adapting their brand strategy to reflect what changes the recession has brought to their business and what it might mean for customers. This will poise them for growth when the economy rebounds."

The global recession coupled with cases of unethical corporate behavior worldwide have eroded trust in business, and consequently, in corporate brands, according to the report, Corporate Brands — Meeting the Challenges of Changing Times, part of the Council Perspectives series. Moving forward, the operating landscape, or "the new normal," will be characterized by consumers who are much more educated buyers and have much less brand loyalty or trust than they used to.

Technology has also made the world a much "smaller" place and brands need to focus heavily on translating internationally. Everyone seems to have access to a website or social media network where they can write-often critically-about any company, product, or service of their choice, the report states.

In previous downturns, smart companies successfully positioned themselves and their brands to emerge stronger, healthier and more primed for growth than when the economic downturn began, says James Andrews of Boston Consulting, a guest presenter to the Council, citing as an example how, in the wake of World War I, DuPont eventually outpaced competitors by focusing on a few key strong products and investing heavily in R&D.

Equally, he added, there are many examples from today and yesterday of companies that were distracted by profit worries or product recalls and lost sight of their brands, suffering dramatically.

Marketers need to monetize the conversation, highlighting to their CEOs the link between the brand and revenue and customer preservation, according to Jeffrey Burchill, CFO of FM Global, who addressed the Council as a guest. Although the C-suite and the board of directors instinctively know there is positive value in corporate name recognition and a strong brand, they are unsure how that relates to the bottom line.

Branding professionals' mindsets need to be about strategy and impact related to revenue and customer retention in the short term and potential growth in the long term. "Talk the language that the C-suite and especially the CFO understands, not the jargon of marketing and brand positioning," says Burchill.

"Building an internal brand culture is as critical as building a strong, external one," says Dodds. "The corporate brand is not only used to improve competitive positioning and express company aspirations, it can be a powerful tool to motivate employees, who act as the brand embodiment when dealing with customers."

The Conference Board Council on Corporate Brand Management, founded in 1999, is a forum for off-the-record discussions focused on key branding issues and state-of-the-art management practices. Through the exchange of ideas and knowledge, the group seeks to enhance the professional development of its members and improve the corporate brand management function. Members also advise The Conference Board on its communications research and meeting program.

recorded strong year-over-year growth, with European derivatives volumes increasing 44.2% and U.S. options trading volumes increasing 56.4%.  Cash equities trading volumes were mixed in February 2010, with European cash transactions increasing 9.1% and U.S. cash equities trading volumes declining 35.7% from prior year elevated levels.  Both European and U.S. cash trading volumes, however, remain above fourth quarter 2009 levels.

Highlights

NYSE Euronext European derivatives products average daily volume (“ADV”) in February 2010 of 4.9 million contracts increased 44.2% compared to February 2009, but decreased 3.3% from January 2010 levels.   Total European fixed income products ADV in February 2010 of 2.8 million contracts increased 50.3% compared to February 2009 and increased 1.4% from January 2010.  Fixed income product ADV is at the highest level since January of 2008.  Total equity products ADV of 2.1 million contracts in February 2010 increased 37.8% compared to February 2009, but decreased 9.1% from January 2010.

NYSE Euronext U.S. equity options (NYSE Arca and NYSE Amex) ADV of 3.4 million contracts in February 2010 increased 56.4% compared to February 2009 levels, but decreased 19.7% from January 2010.   NYSE Euronext’s U.S. options exchanges accounted for 26.9% of the total consolidated equity options trading in February 2010, up from 17.3% in February 2009, but down from 27.8% in January 2010.  NYSE Euronext was the largest U.S. equity options exchange group in the industry in February 2010.

NYSE Euronext European cash products ADV of 1.4 million transactions in February 2010 increased 9.1% compared to February 2009 and increased 4.1% from January 2010.

NYSE Euronext (NYSE, NYSE Arca and NYSE Amex) U.S. cash products handled ADV of 2.6 billion shares in February 2010 decreased 35.7% compared to February 2009 and decreased 3.7% compared to January 2010.  NYSE Euronext matched share of all U.S. cash equity trading volume was 27.7% in February 2010, up from 26.5% in January 2010.  NYSE Euronext’s Tape A matched market share in February 2010 was 36.6%, up from 34.3% in January 2010.

There were a total of 20 trading days in Europe and 19 trading days in the U.S.  in February 2010 and February 2009.

Derivatives Trading

European Derivatives

NYSE Euronext European derivatives products ADV in February 2010 was 4.9 million futures and options contracts, an increase of 44.2% from February 2009, but a decrease of 3.3% from January 2010.  The 4.9 million in futures and options contracts ADV in February 2010 consisted of 3.9 million contracts executed through our full-service LIFFE CONNECT trading platform and 1.0 million contracts, or 20.7%, executed through Bclear, NYSE Liffe's trade administration and clearing service for OTC products.  Year-to-date, European derivatives products ADV of 5.0 million contracts was 37.7% above prior year levels.  The 5.0 million in futures and options contracts ADV year-to-date consisted of 4.0 million contracts executed through LIFFE CONNECT trading platform and 1.0 million contracts, or 20.8%, executed through Bclear.

Total fixed income products ADV of 2.8 million contracts in February 2010 increased 50.3% from February 2009 and increased 1.4% from January 2010.   Fixed income product ADV is at the highest level since January of 2008.  Year-to-date, total fixed income products ADV of 2.8 million contracts was 43.7% above prior year levels.

Total equity products (including Bclear) ADV of 2.1 million contracts in February 2010 increased 37.8% compared to February 2009, but decreased 9.1% from January 2010.   The 2.1 million contracts in equity products ADV consisted of 1.5 million contracts in individual equity products ADV and 0.6 million contracts in equity index products ADV.  The 1.5 million contracts in individual equity products ADV consisted of 0.8 million in futures contracts, which represented a 175.2% increase compared to February 2009 and 0.7 million in options contracts, which represented a 7.5% increase compared to February 2009.  Year-to-date, total equity products ADV of 2.2 million contracts was 31.6% above prior year levels.  

U.S.  Derivatives

NYSE Euronext U.S.  equity options (NYSE Arca and NYSE Amex) ADV of 3.4 million contracts in February 2010 increased 56.4% compared to February 2009, but decreased 19.7% compared to January 2010.  Year-to-date, U.S. equity options ADV of 3.8 million contracts was 79.1% above prior year levels.

Total U.S.  consolidated equity options ADV increased 0.4% to 12.6 million contracts in February 2010 compared to February 2009, but decreased 17.0% compared to January 2010.  Year-to-date, U.S. consolidated equity options ADV of 13.9 million contracts was 13.5% above prior year levels.

NYSE Euronext’s U.S.  options exchanges accounted for 26.9% of the total consolidated equity options trading in February 2010, up from 17.3% in February 2009.  NYSE Euronext was the largest U.S. equity options exchange group in February 2010 for the second consecutive month.  

NYSE Euronext U.S.  futures and futures options (NYSE Liffe U.S. ) ADV in February 2010 was approximately 23,000 contracts, compared to 22,000 contracts in January 2010.  Year-to-date U.S. futures and futures options ADV was 22,000 contracts.

Cash Trading

European Cash

NYSE Euronext European cash products ADV of 1.4 million transactions in February 2010 increased 9.1%, compared to February 2009 and increased 4.1% compared to January 2010.   European cash estimated market share in terms of value traded was relatively stable.  Year-to-date, European cash products ADV of 1.4 million transactions was 6.6% above prior year levels.

U.S.  Cash

NYSE Euronext U.S.  cash products handled ADV in February 2010 decreased 35.7% to 2.6 billion shares compared to February 2009 and decreased 3.7% from January 2010.  Year-to-date, U.S. cash products handled ADV was 2.7 billion shares, down 30.0% from prior year levels.

NYSE Euronext’s Tape A matched market share in February 2010 was 36.6%, up from 34.3% in January 2010.

Designated Market Maker participation in February 2010 was 8.5%, compared to 8.8% in January 2010.  Supplemental Liquidity Provider participation in February 2010 was 12.1%, compared to 11.1% in January 2010.  DMM and SLP participation pertain only to trading on NYSE.

Exchange Traded Products

NYSE Euronext U.S. matched exchange-traded products ADV (included in volumes for Tape B and Tape C) of 364 million shares in February 2010 decreased 41.9% compared to February 2009, but increased 4.9% compared to January 2010. Year-to-date, NYSE Euronext U.S. matched exchange-traded products ADV of 356 million shares was 38.7% below prior year levels.

providers: Citadel Securities, DRW Ventures LLC (an affiliate of DRW Trading Group), GETCO, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and UBS. NYSE Euronext will continue to be the largest shareholder in NYSE Liffe U.S., managing the exchange’s daily operations. NYSE Liffe U.S. will continue to operate under the supervision of a separate Board of Directors, chaired by James J. McNulty, former CEO of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

"With the completion of this transaction, NYSE Liffe U.S. is well positioned to deliver innovation, competition and value to the U.S. derivatives marketplace," said Duncan L. Niederauer, Chief Executive Officer, NYSE Euronext. "We are committed to building a diverse, customer-driven U.S. futures exchange, and are confident that partnering with our clients is the right strategy for success."

"The NYSE Liffe U.S. partnership includes some of the most sophisticated and forward-thinking participants in today’s global markets," said Thomas F. Callahan, Chief Executive Officer, NYSE Liffe U.S. "The addition of a world-class partner like DRW to this group will only accelerate our efforts to deliver a vibrant, liquid U.S. futures exchange."

"Citadel Securities is committed to innovation as a means to promote open, fair and transparent markets. NYSE Euronext shares these principles and we welcome the opportunity to become a founding partner in this innovative new exchange," said Patrik Edsparr, Global CEO of Citadel Securities.

Don Wilson, Founder and CEO of DRW Trading Group added, "DRW’s partnership with NYSE Liffe U.S. is an exciting opportunity to influence the evolution of the futures industry in this time of unprecedented regulatory change."

"GETCO has a long-standing tradition of supporting competition and efficiency across the spectrum of global capital markets. We look forward to working with NYSE Euronext to build a world class U.S. futures exchange," said Dave Babulak, Managing Director of GETCO.

Reinhardt Olsen, North American Head of Exchange Traded Derivatives of UBS said, "In closing this agreement with NYSE Euronext, UBS clearly shows our dedication to expanding our leadership presence in the listed derivatives marketplace and our commitment to delivering more trading options and better value to our customers."

National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), the largest stock exchange in India, and CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced cross-listing arrangements, including license agreements covering benchmark indexes for U.S. and Indian equities.  The parties have also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with respect to other areas of potential cooperation, including related to development and distribution of financial products and services.

Under the cross-listing arrangements, the S&P CNX Nifty Index (the Nifty 50), the leading Indian benchmark index for large companies accounting for 22 sectors of the Indian economy, will be made available to Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), for the creation and listing of U.S. dollar denominated futures contracts for trading on CME, and the rights to the S&P 500® and Dow Jones Industrial Average™ (DJIA®) will also be made available to NSE for the creation and (subject to regulatory approval) listing of Rupee-denominated futures contracts for trading on NSE.  The license to the Nifty 50 from NSE's affiliate India Index Services & Products Ltd. (IISL), which is exclusive to CME Group within the Americas and Europe, is in addition to the existing licensing arrangement between Singapore Exchange Ltd. (SGX) and IISL.  The sublicenses to the S&P 500 and DJIA indexes, which are exclusive to NSE for Rupee-denominated futures contracts traded within India, are being made availabl e via sublicenses from CME Group and each of Standard & Poor's and Dow Jones, respectively.

"Indian financial markets have gone through a phase of rapid growth in the past few years," said Ravi Narain, MD & CEO, NSE.  "Our products are traded by institutional investors worldwide, making the Nifty 50 one of the more widely traded global products.  This association with CME Group will make the Nifty 50, and, over time, potentially other products across various India-related asset classes, available to a much larger community of traders and investors.  At the same time, investors in India will have access to new exchange traded products that reflect some of the world's most widely traded equity indexes.  This will improve portfolio choice for Indian investors by widening the array of assets that they can hold in their portfolios."

"These agreements with NSE, India's largest stock exchange, represent another example of CME Group's commitment to expand our global offerings and services to our customers," said Terry Duffy, Executive Chairman, CME Group.  "These arrangements will allow us to expand on our benchmark equity index product suite and provide our customers with access to a futures contract that is based upon the leading benchmark index reflecting the Indian equity markets."

"Our new partnership with NSE is an integral part of our global growth strategy," said Craig Donohue, Chief Executive Officer, CME Group.  "In addition to our existing partnerships or investments in Brazil, Dubai, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico and Singapore, our NSE partnership will further expand our customers' access to the most actively-traded foreign markets, while also increasing access for global investors from within these regions to CME Group products and services.  As the world's 12th largest and one of the most rapidly growing economies, India is an important part of our efforts to develop strategic partners in key growth markets."

"We see this as a very exciting development that marks the coming of age of Indian financial markets," added Mr. Narain.  "This will go a long way in achieving our vision of supporting economic growth in the country by making Indian financial products available globally and meeting the needs of our investor community for global products."

"S&P Indices has a successful, twenty-seven year relationship with the CME Group in the U.S. futures market, and a strong ten year association with the NSE in developing stock market indices in India," says Alexander Matturri, Executive Managing Director at S&P Indices.  "We are certainly pleased to be working with both of our longtime exchange partners to help Indian investors gain greater access to the U.S. equity markets as determined by the S&P 500, an index with nearly $1 trillion directly indexed to it."

with operating a Ponzi scheme in connection with foreign currency (forex) trading.

The CFTC’s complaint, filed on March 4, 2010, alleges that, since at least April 2008, Cloud and C & R Financial solicited at least $200,000 from individuals for the sole purpose of trading forex. Allegedly, the defendants promised several customers that they would each have personal accounts at a registered futures commission merchant, through which defendants would trade forex for them. The defendants allegedly lured customers with promises of doubling or tripling their investments within a year through forex trading gains.

Defendants, however, opened an account in Cloud’s name, deposited only a portion of customers’ funds into the account and misappropriated at least $75,000 of customer funds for personal use, according to the complaint. The complaint also charges that defendants sent false account statements to customers showing large profits, when, in fact, defendants’ forex trading resulted in substantial losses. Defendants allegedly returned approximately $36,000 to customers as redemption of principal and purported “profits.” Because the defendants lost a substantial portion of customer funds in forex trading, the complaint alleges that the redemptions and purported “profits” came from the principal invested by existing or subsequent customers, thus constituting a Ponzi scheme.

Federal Court Sets Preliminary Injunction Hearing for April 1, 2010

On March 9, 2010, the Honorable Gray H. Miller of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ordered Cloud and C & R Financial to appear in court on April 1, 2010 at 1:00 pm for a preliminary injunction hearing.

In the continuing litigation, the CFTC seeks restitution, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil monetary penalties and a permanent injunction prohibiting further violations of the federal commodities laws.

The following CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members are responsible for this case: Andrew Ridenour, Patrick Pericak, Michael Loconte, Jessica Harris, Kenneth McCracken, Rick Glaser and Richard Wagner.