BISX's Listing Manager, Holland Grant, revealed late last month that that the four funds have been listed on the Exchange as part of the Central Bank's Exchange Control Liberalization Program, which was designed to ease and enhance the international investment opportunities for Bahamian residents. The funds include: The Fidelity Bahamas International Investment Fund Class N-Series 1 (IIF-N1); The CFAL Global Bond Fund (GBF); The CFAL Global Equity Fund (GEF); and The CFAL High Grade Bond Fund (HGF).

According to the exchange, each fund brings a different investment perspective to local investors seeking investment opportunities through BISX listed funds:

- The Fidelity Bahamas International Investment Fund offers investors the opportunity to participate in a principal protected vehicle, whereby they can enjoy the upside potential of an underlying Index, while their principal amount is expected to be returned at the end of the investment period. This fund tracks the performance of four indices that represent four separate economic areas, namely: the iShares Emerging Markets Index (EEM) (emerging markets), the S&P 500 (US), the Dow Jones STOXX 50 (Europe) and the Nikkei 225 Index (Japan). The fund will be administered by Fidelity Merchant Bank & Trust.

- The CFAL Global Equity Fund seeks superior long term growth of capital by investing primarily in a global portfolio of equity securities of well-established companies that are believed to have above-average market appreciation potential.

- The CFAL Global Bond Fund seeks a high total risk adjusted investment return by investing in a global portfolio of investment grade and non-investment grade fixed income securities. Both the Global Equity and Bond Funds are administered by CFAL.

- The CFAL High Grade Bond Fund will invest in Funds with an investment strategy of actively trading and which employ leveraged carry trades with instruments subject to accurate daily valuation exclusively being US Agency mortgage passthroughs (i.e. 'AAA' rated GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC collateral), US Treasuries, and appropriately collateralized repurchase agreements. The High Grade Bond Fund will be administered by Genesis Fund Services Ltd.

BISX listed five funds during the month of December 2007 and Keith Davies, Chief Executive Officer of BISX commented on these latest listings that: "We are very pleased with the activity we have seen in the market recently, particularly the developments with our Mutual Fund Listing Facility. These funds add a new and different dimension to the several offerings available to local residents on BISX."

The BISX Chief also noted that unique types of listings were being introduced on the Exchange, observing that: "Today we see another evolutionary step forward in the development of our capital markets with the listing of these four new mutual funds. The fact that the funds were created to capitalize on recent Exchange Control liberalizations and are also available to local residents is a another first for our market."

Mr Davies also revealed that the BISX has been proactive behind the scenes in the development of the local capital markets.

"As a result of BISX's efforts over the last several years and in particular in 2007, our members are now able to develop new products and offer additional investment alternatives to local investors. I also think the creation and marketing of these new funds is proof-positive of the growing confidence in our market and speaks to the sophistication of the local investing public. I expect more positive growth as we move forward in 2008," he concluded.