But they ain't index funds, and they shouldn't be viewed as a replacement for index funds.
The tables for index options and trading in stock options will no longer appear.
For index funds, whose composition is determined by a mathematical formula, that causes no problems.
The close was the highest for index since March 19 , 2002 when it finished at 1,170.29.
CHART Chart shows line graph for INDEX FOR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES 1-year Treasury rate(Source: HSH Associates).
"We're seeing a general weakening," said Maureen Maitland, vice president for index services at Standard & Poor's.
"But that doesn't seem to be working except for index funds.
"The last several years were an unusually benign period for index funds and the stocks in index funds," he added, in part because valuation mattered little to investors.
"There are now several months of data in which we have seen improvement," said Maureen Maitland, vice president for index services at Standard & Poor's.
Robert Shakotko, S.& P.'s director for index services, said that while "nobody likes to be dumped from a prestigious club, no ill will is meant".
Managers' costs for exchange-traded funds are lower than for index mutual funds, which provide services like telephone operations and, sometimes, branch offices.
