American Stock Exchange to Trade Options on an Additional Seven Securities

American Stock Exchange to Trade Options on an Additional Seven Securities NEW YORK, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) will launch trading in options on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 on the following American Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Stock Market and New York Stock Exchange listed stocks of: * Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (Option Symbol: AQW/Stock Symbol: DSCO) * dj Orthopedics, Inc. (Symbol: DJO) * Ionics, Incorporated (Symbol: ION) * K2 Inc. (Symbol: KTO) * SFBC International, Inc. (Option Symbol: JQE/Stock Symbol: SFCC) * Sonic Innovations, Inc. (Option Symbol: SNCI/Stock Symbol: FQY) * Western Silver Corporation (Symbol: WTZ) Discovery Laboratories, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 5 - 7 1/2 - 10 and position limits of 3,150,000 shares. The options will trade on the March expiration cycle with initial expirations in August, September, December and March. The specialist will be Fogel Group, LLC. Discovery Laboratories, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes medically novel therapeutics for critical care. dj Orthopedics, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 20 - 22 1/2 - 25 and position limits of 2,250,000 shares. The options will trade on the March expiration cycle with initial expirations in August, September, December and March. The specialist will be LaBranche Structured Products, LLC. dj Orthopedics, Inc. is a sports medicine company. Ionics, Incorporated options will open with strike prices of 22 1/2 - 25 - 30 and position limits of 1,350,000 shares. The options will trade on the March expiration cycle with initial expirations in August, September, December and March. The specialist will be Highland Securities Corp. Ionics, Incorporated develops and manufactures systems and provides related services for water treatment. K2 Inc. options will open with strike prices of 121/2 - 15 - 17 1/2 and position limits of 2,250,000 shares. The options will trade on the March expiration cycle with initial expirations in August, September, December and March. The specialist will be Charlton Specialist Partners, LLC. K2 Inc. designs, manufactures and markets sporting goods, as well as recreational and industrial products. SFBC International, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 25 - 30 - 35 and position limits of 2,250,000 shares. The options will trade on the March expiration cycle with initial expirations in August, September, December and March. The specialist will be Bowery Specialist Group, LLC. SFBC International, Inc. is an contract research organization that conducts clinical research and provides drug development services for clients in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Sonic Innovations, Inc. options will open with strike prices of 2 1/2 - 5 - 7 1/2 and position limits of 3,150,000 shares. The options will trade on the March expiration cycle with initial expirations in August, September, December and March. The specialist will be Wolverine Trading L.P. Sonic Innovations, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets advanced digital hearing aids and hearing aid components. Western Silver Corporation options will open with strike prices of 5 - 7 1/2 - 10 and position limits of 2,250,000 shares. The options will trade on the March expiration cycle with initial expirations in August, September, December and March. The specialist will be Highland Securities Corp. Amex-listed Western Silver Corporation is a silver and base metal exploration company with advanced projects in Mexico and Canada. The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) is the only primary exchange that offers trading across a full range of equities, options and exchange traded funds (ETFs), including structured products and HOLDRS(SM). In addition to its role as a national equities market, the Amex is the pioneer of the ETF, responsible for bringing the first domestic product to market in 1993. Leading the industry in ETF listings, the Amex lists 138 ETFs to date. The Amex is also one of the largest options exchanges in the U.S., trading options on broad-based and sector indexes as well as domestic and foreign stocks. DATASOURCE: American Stock Exchange CONTACT: Lynn Duffy of American Stock Exchange, +1-212-306-1654, or Web site: http://www.amex.com/