Bangkok--3 Apr--Standard & Poor's Leading independent research provider continues to expand investment coverage Standard & Poor's Equity Research Services, the world's largest producer of independent equity research, today announced that optionsXpress, a pioneer in equity options and futures trading, would begin offering its award-winning S&P Stock Reports and newly introduced Options Reports to clients looking for actionable investment ideas. Through S&P’s offerings on optionsXpress, investors can conduct daily pre-market and evaluations of potential equity stock and options trades. Investors can use these tools to execute strategies that limit capital expenditure and help manage portfolio risk. “Today’s investors are looking for reliable research and information that helps them maintain a nimble investment profile and balance capital exposure within their portfolio,” says Larry Neal, Executive Managing Director, Standard & Poor’s. “S&P’s in-depth analysis delivers the insights and knowledge needed to engage in investment activities across the equity spectrum.” S&P’s Stock Reports draw from the award-winning complete STARS coverage. Stock Reports include detailed financial information, such as 12-month target prices and valuation assumptions, sector and peer group analysis, and proprietary Standard & Poor’s metrics like Fair Value and Quality Rankings, on nearly 1,600 U.S.-listed equities. Developed with InvestorsObserver, S&P Options Reports use “Key” rankings, based on several indicators, including S&P’s STARS rankings, to highlight the relative risk of equity options positions. Each report includes recommended strike prices and potential returns for an optimal covered call and companion Calendar Spread trades, downside loss protection percentages, and a “Comparison Ladder” for different strategies. “optionsXpress constantly strives to help investors make more informed decisions with a suite of tools and services they just can’t find anywhere else,” says David Fisher, Chief Executive Officer, optionsXpress Holdings. “By offering S&P’s stock and options reports, we’re providing timely and actionable quantitative and qualitative analysis for our customers.” To aid decision-making, investors can receive a daily feed of strategic alerts, which may include text news stories, on options trades delivered pre-market. “The recent increase in market volatility has shined a light on options trading as an alternative to the risks associated with traditional equity investments,” says Vic Schiller, President of InvestorsObserver. “This has helped demonstrate the value that can be derived from a complementary offering of S&P’s stock and options reports” Investors Observer operates entirely separately and independently from Standard & Poor’s Equity Research. Investor Observer develops its service based on content provide by Standard & Poor’s Equity Research, but is not affiliated with or a subsidiary of Standard & Poor’s.About Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services As the world’s largest producer of independent equity research, Standard & Poor’s licenses its research to over 1,000 institutions for their investors and advisors, including 19 of the top 20 securities firms, 13 of the top 20 banks, and 11 of the top 20 life insurance companies. Standard & Poor’s team of 120 experienced U.S., European and Asian equity analysts use a fundamental, bottom-up approach to assess a global universe of approximately 2,000 equities across more than 120 industries worldwide. Follow Standard & Poor's equity analysts' U.S. market commentary each day at http://www.equityresearch.standardandpoors.com/. The equity research reports and recommendations provided by Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services are performed separately from any other analytic activity of Standard & Poor’s. Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services has no access to non-public information received by other units of Standard & Poor’s. Standard & Poor’s does not trade for its own account. The analytical and ethical conduct of Standard & Poor’s equity analysts is governed by the firm’s Research Objectivity Policy, a copy of which may also be found at www.standardandpoors.com or by clicking here.About InvestorsObserver InvestorsObserver is a division of Fresh Brewed Media, a Charlottesville, Virginia-based independent investment research firm focused on the U.S. equities and options markets. Its unique set of analytical tools, screening techniques, rigorous research methods and committed staff provide solid information to help subscribers strive to make the best investment decisions possible. Its analysts have professional backgrounds ranging from accounting to engineering and all share a passion for digging into the numbers to discover optimal hedged equity option trades. The company launched its first model portfolios in December 2002 and currently serves a subscriber base of well over 250,000 investors, who receive its investment newsletters, market research, daily reports, and portfolio services.About optionsXpress Holdings, Inc.optionsXpress Holdings, Inc., a pioneer in equity options and futures trading, offers an innovative suite of online brokerage services for investor education, strategy evaluation and trade execution. optionsXpress Holdings subsidiaries include optionsXpress, Inc., a retail online brokerage specializing in options and futures, and brokersXpress, LLC, an online trading and reporting platform for independent investment professionals. Barron's named optionsXpress the number one online broker for four years in a row (2003 to 2006) and Kiplinger's Personal Finance named it the top discount broker in 2006. For more information contact: Marc Eiger, Communications, S&P Equity Research, Tel.: 212-438-1280 [email protected]