Barclays Global Investors Launch 10 iShares Subsector Funds

San Francisco, CA–May 5, 2006– Barclays Global Investors (BGI) announced that 10 iShares Dow Jones Subsector Index Funds began trading today on the New York Stock Exchange. These exchange traded funds (ETFs) are the newest additions to the largest sector ETF product line in the United States, now totaling 35 funds with over $16 billion. The Funds' annual expense ratios are 0.48%.

iShares Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Index Fund (IEO)
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Oil Equipment & Services Index Fund (IEZ)
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Pharmaceuticals Index Fund (IHE)
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Healthcare Providers Index Fund (IHF)
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Medical Devices Index Fund (IHI)
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Broker-Dealers Index Fund (IAI)
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Insurance Index Fund (IAK)
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Regional Banks Index Fund (IAT)
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Aerospace & Defense Index Fund (ITA)
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction Index Fund (ITB)

"We're pleased to provide investors with the opportunity for more precise exposure provided by iShares subsector ETFs," said Lee Kranefuss, CEO of BGI's Intermediary and ETF Business. "We work closely with our clients to identify and develop products that answer their needs today and in the future. Due to the Dow Jones sector series being market cap weighted, many investors have asked us for a way to provide subsector exposure in situations where the broader sector is dominated by large cap names."

The iShares Funds now includes a total of 111 exchange traded funds with over $207 billion in total assets under management as of May 5, 2006. So far this year, over $17 billion in net cash has been invested in iShares Funds.

The iShares Funds are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on securities exchanges. The iShares Funds are attractive to many individual and institutional investors and financial intermediaries because of their relative low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.