Standard & Poor’s today announced that it has decided not to change the current schedule for including income trusts in the S&P/TSX composite index.

On Sept. 27, 2005, the S&P/TSX Canadian Index Committee invited comments from the S&P/TSX Canadian Index Advisory Panel and other members of the financial community on whether the announced schedule for including income trusts in the S&P/TSX Composite Index should be revised in light of possible changes to regulations governing income trusts.

S&P said over 30 responses from a wide range of financial market participants were received.

After reviewing the comments and considering related financial market issues, the committee has decided not to change the current schedule for the inclusion of income trusts.

As announced in June 2005, income trusts will be added to the S&P/TSX composite in two steps, after the close on Dec. 16, 2005 and March 17, 2006.

A new equity-only composite index (S&P/TSX Equity Index) will be calculated and published real time beginning in December 2005.

Income trusts will not be added to the S&P/TSX 60 index.