NEW YORK, June 18, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R))
opened trading on Merrill Lynch's STEP Income Securities Linked to Apple Inc.

Priced at $10.00 per unit with an initial offer size of 3,895,000 units,
this equity trades under the ticker symbol AXD and has a maturity date of June
25, 2009.

The notes are issued by Merrill Lynch. The Amex specialist unit is
AGS/STR/OTA.

If you would like to receive a copy of the prospectus for AXD, please
visit the American Stock Exchange website at http://www.amex.com.

The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) 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 406 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. For more information, please
visit www.amex.com.

SOURCE The American Stock Exchange

http://www.amex.com

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