Reuters and Sun Microsystems announced today that Reuters will launch ReuterFirst Web, an enterprise-level information solution for financial institutions in the `big bang` era of deregulation. ReuterFirst Web offers customers the opportunity to reduce costs while at the same time improving information access and analysis on a wide scale, the twin challenges faced by financial institutions as increasing competition takes hold.

Through a web browser, customers will be able to access news, data and Java analytical software; while the simplicity of system management brought by server-resident Java software reduces support costs, a concept pioneered by Sun Microsystems, the breakthrough innovation of>b> ReuterFirst Web is its use of `push` architecture to deliver real-time data in an Internet Protocol environment, the most cost-effective network solution.

The use of World Wide Web technology means that customers can easily customise data and displays in their intranet, for example combining in-house information with the real-time news and data provided by Reuters.

ReuterFirst Web provides the range of benefits of Java Computing: fully secured operation, software version control, and an object-oriented programming paradigm. The use of Java applets means that a wide range of client platforms can be supported: workstations, personal computers, and today`s new `thin client` devices. Customers can use their installed Reuters Triarch 2000 trading systems, connected to intranet and private Internet networks, to provide an enterprise-wide solution that is unprecedented in its flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

ReuterFirst Web uses Sun`s Ultra Enterprise 5000 as its host server system.

Reuters will be demonstrating ReuterFirst Web at the COSMOS`97 + JAVA COMPUTING EXPO, which will be held at Tokyo Bigsight from 16 to 18 July.

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 360,000 clients in 161 countries access Reuters information through a variety of electronic terminals.

Nihon Sun Microsystems K.K. is the Japanese operation of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Sun's singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer", has propelled it to be come a leading provider of hardware and software for establishing open and scalable network computing environments. Sun leads the technological race in both Internet and intranets, the birthplace of new business opportunities.

Reuters and the dotted and sphere logos are the house trademarks of Reuters Limited.

Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Ultra Enterprise, Java, The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc in the United States and in other countries.