Barclays Global Investors, N.A. Files for iShares COMEX Gold Trust.

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2004

Barclays Global Investors, N.A. (BGI) has filed a Form S-1 Registration Statement for the iShares COMEX Gold Trust with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Trust is intended to provide investors with a

simple and cost-effective means of making an investment similar to an investment in gold. The objective of the Trust is for its shares to reflect, at any given time, the price of the gold owned by the Trust at that time less the Trust's expenses and liabilities. Once available to investors, shares of the Trust can be purchased and sold throughout the U.S. market trading day. The Net Asset Value (NAV) of the Trust's shares will be determined daily by the Trustee on the basis of the settlement price for spot-month gold futures contracts announced by COMEX.

Barclays Global Investors, N.A. is the Trust's sponsor. COMEX is a division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). The Bank of New York is named as the Trustee, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Trust. The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) will be the custodian. In addition to having storage capabilities in New York, London and other locations around the world, BNS, through its precious metals division ScotiaMocatta, is a full service bullion dealer.

Barclays Capital, a leading bullion market participant, will be the initial purchaser of shares issued by the Trust.

Barclays Global Investors is one of the world's largest asset managers(1) providing structured investment strategies such as indexing and risk-controlled active strategies. BGI managed over $1 trillion in assets as of 11/30/03, and over 2,000 funds for more than 2,200 clients in 39 countries around the world. BGI is owned by Barclays PLC.

This notice does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, any shares of the Trust. Such an offer or solicitation may be made only by means of the prospectus, which is part of the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

There are risks involved with investing, including possible loss of principal.

iShares is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

(1) Source: "P&I/Watson Wyatt Mega Managers," Pensions & Investments, September 1, 2003.