New Version of MetaStock Includes Performance Systems; 26 Built-In Trading Systems, Improved Internet Capabilities Distinguish Trading Software Upgrade

Business Wire, March 9, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 2001

MetaStock(R) now contains more ready-made trading tools than ever before.

MetaStock Performance Systems(TM) are 26 new trading systems built into MetaStock 7.2, a new upgrade to the popular MetaStock trading software from Equis International Inc., a Reuters company (Nasdaq: RTRSY).

MetaStock Performance Systems are designed to be profitable over a large database of securities, not just two or three, and they have a high percentage of wins compared with a buy-and-hold strategy.

"As more and more traders integrate charting and technical analysis into their strategies, we've discovered an increased need for built-in trading systems and tools," said Equis President and Chief Executive Officer Allan McNichol.

Equis has partnered with Technical Systems Analysis Group, another Salt Lake City-based company, to include these profitable new systems in the latest version of MetaStock.

"The inclusion of Performance Systems in MetaStock hugely increases the availability of high-quality, pre-programmed trading tools," McNichol added. "This will make trading simpler and easier for our existing customers, not to mention more accessible for new traders."

Performance Systems work by integrating with MetaStock's existing analysis tools. For example:

-- Ten of the Performance Systems have their own Performance Explorations,
which allow traders to scan their favorite securities or a database containing
thousands of securities. The exploration filters, sorts, and ranks the
securities, then returns performance numbers on long positions, short
positions, long and short positions, then compare all three to a buy-and-hold
position strategy.

-- MetaStock's System Tester allows close inspection of criteria that gauge the
effectiveness of the Performance Systems. Traders may also use the system
tester to perform a comparison test between different Performance Systems to
determine which strategy fits best with specific securities.

-- These Explorations and system tests produce lists of stocks to place in a
"watch list." The Signal Exploration and Expert Advisor alert traders to
securities that will generate buy and sell signals that day and give
commentary.

MetaStock 7.2 includes new Internet-related features that make it more Internet-capable than any other trading software available:

-- Web Resources. Right-clicking on any chart in MetaStock allows

access to a customizable Web Resources menu which provides

links to research, quotes, news, chats and bulletin boards,

and any other site the user wants to add. And when the user

changes charts, Web Resources causes the content displayed in

the browser window to reflect that change whenever possible.

For example, if an investor links to a Raging Bull forum on

IBM from an IBM chart, then when that investor changes to an

Intel chart, the browser will navigate to the Raging Bull

forum on Intel.

-- Internet Explorer Window. Internet content (such as that

accessible through Web Resources) can now be viewed within

MetaStock, due to the addition of a new Internet Explorer

window. Even if the user does not have Internet Explorer

chosen as their preferred browser, the MetaStock Internet

Explorer window still works.

-- Web Update. When developers make improvements to MetaStock,

MetaStock can now update itself online, ensuring that the

right files are downloaded and installed properly every time.

-- Online Trading. MetaStock 7.2 works with the online brokerage

Preferred Trade. After a simple, intuitive setup process for

Preferred Trade, it is accessible from The Trading Toolbar,

which allows investors to manipulate the account through which

they will be placing the trade, as well as the direction of

the trade. It also shows the symbol of the security an

investor is acting on. Once these things are confirmed, the

trade can be placed with a single mouse click. Preferred Trade

can also be accessed from the Expert Alert dialog box in

MetaStock's Expert Advisor and the Explorer/Reports dialog

box, so that users can trade directly from the results of

MetaStock's popular power tools.

In addition to the Internet integration improvements, other changes have been made in MetaStock, including resizable formula editor dialogs, the ability for URLs in the custom toolbar to pass literals (such as symbols), and an expanded color palette.

MetaStock 7.2 includes the many existing features that have made MetaStock one of the leaders in technical analysis and charting software. These features include:

-- DataOnDemand(TM), for instantaneous access to price data for

any security. All a trader needs to do is type that security's

symbol, avoiding tedious data maintenance.

-- Customized, flexible charting. MetaStock features Favorites

folders for easy organization, Click and Pick/Drag and Drop

functionality for timesaving ease, SmartCharts(TM) so

important changes are never lost, individual chart toolbars

for easy viewing and manipulation, templates and layouts

customizable for each trader's individual ideas and style,