S&P Reports Changes to Indices

Standard & Poor's has announced several changes to its S&P 500, S&P 100, and S&P REIT Composite indices.Mortgage lender Golden West Financial Corp. will be replaced by Smith International Inc. in the S&P 500 because Golden West is being acquired by Wachovia Corp., S&P reported. Meanwhile, Wachovia will replace Unisys Corp. in the S&P 100. Both changes will take effect after the close of trading on Sept. 29. Two real estate investment trusts, Spirit Finance Corp. and Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., will be listed on the S&P REIT Composite Index in early October. Spirit will replace Heritage Property Investment Trust Inc. after the close of trading on Oct. 3 because Heritage is being acquired by Centro Properties Group, S&P said. Host Hotels will replace Trizec Properties Inc. after the close of trading on Oct. 5 because Trizec is being acquired by the Blackstone Group and Brookfield Properties Corp. S&P can be found online at http://www.standardandpoors.com.