Tokyo, 24 December - Reuters Japan Limited (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Frank Beaumont) announced today that it launches ReuterFirst Web, a new financial information service for Japanese financial markets, using Internet technology to meet the needs of customers in the coming Big Bang deregulation era.

In preparing for the Big Bang deregulation era, financial institutions are looking to distribute more information internally at lower cost, since deregulation is expected to create more competition among financial institutions due to changes in the structure of commissions and the removal of more entry barriers.

ReuterFirst Web offers easy access to information of high quality through the World Wide Web (WWW). Unlike traditional on-line services, customers no longer need a dedicated application on every user's desk. Customers can access ReuterFirst Web through a range of networks: their own intranet, private Internet networks or extranets that reach their branches.

Using Java-based push technology ReuterFirst Web delivers financial market data including stock prices and domestic and international news in real time - news and information which are essential for financial institutions.

In addition, ReuterFirst Web carries market statistics of stock exchanges, equity fundamental data, and earning estimates, as well as providing users with easy access to charts and time & sales data.

The monthly information cost of ReuterFirst Web is Yen16,950 per user (including exchange fee), which offers any financial institution a new way to control total information costs.

Reuters Japan Limited supplies electronic information services to the business community and news media in more than 40 cities in Japan, from real-time financial data and trading systems to business information databases and news including graphics, still pictures and video. Reuters is the oldest and largest foreign news and information company in Japan, having opened its first office in the country in 1872. Today, some 390,000 clients in 163 countries access Reuters information through a variety of electronic terminals.

For further information please contact:

Reuters Japan Limited

3F Shuwa Kamiyacho Bldg., 4-3-13, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105

Kumi Ishii, Senior Publicity Executive

(Phone: 03-3432-9095, E-mail: kumi.ishii@reuters.com)

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