The Global Advantage Funds (GAF) Emerging Markets High Value was selected as the best global investment stock fund for emerging countries, both over the past three years and over the past five years. The Balzac Norway Index was designated the best stock fund for Northern Europe over the past five years. The streetTRACKS MSCI Europe Industrials ETF was the winner in the stock category of the industrials segment. Being approved for public distribution in Germany and Austria, all funds are available to institutional investors and private investors alike.

“We are happy that the excellent performance of the SSgA funds has again been confirmed by a renowned rating agency,” said Klaus Esswein, managing director of the German subsidiary State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Munich. “This year's Lipper Funds Awards for Germany underlines our position as the world's leading institutional fund manager and our competence in stock fund management, both in active strategies and in terms of our traditional competency in passive management.”

Lipper's rating method determines the funds characterized by the best risk/return profile in various segments. Thus, the funds that won the Lipper awards boast constant above-average risk-adjusted returns over the respective periods under consideration. Awards were only bestowed for continuous peak performances. The analysis included all funds approved for public distribution in Germany.

The quality of the investment processes and the risk management in SSgA's actively managed funds are impressively demonstrated by the fact that the GAF Emerging Markets High Value ranked first both over three years and over five years. During the five-year period from 2001 to 2005, its value increased by an annual rate of 23.6 percent. Thus, the annual outperformance in comparison to the MSCI Emerging Markets benchmark amounted to 9.9 percentage points. Over the three-year period, the GAF Emerging Markets High Value increased by an annual rate of 43.6 percent. The outperformance over this period amounted to 70.9 percentage points. Since its introduction in December 1993, the GAF Emerging Markets High Value has clearly and consistently outperformed its benchmark. Over the entire period until the end of 2005, the fund's average total returns after deduction of all costs were twice as high as its benchmark: 8.2 percent compared to 4.1 percent per year.

State Street Global Advisors, the investment management group of State Street Corporation,delivers investment strategies and integrated solutions to clients worldwide across every asset class, investment approach and style. With $1.4 trillion (€1.2 trillion) in investment programs and portfolios at December 31, 2005 , State Street Global Advisors has investment centers in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Milan, Montreal, Munich, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Zurich, and offices in 26 cities worldwide. For more information, visit State Street Global Advisors at www.ssga.de .

** An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing.

Klaus Esswein, Managing Director, SSgA Germany, Munich, Tel. +49-(0)89/55878-406

Volker Northoff, Northoff.Com Public Relations, Tel.+49- (0)69/952977-20