`You Talked. We Listened.' TradeCast Introduces New `High Demand' Product Enhancements.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 2001

TradeCast(R) Ltd. has released significant software enhancements to its TradeCast Elite(TM) direct-access trading system incorporating additional "high demand" direct order entry capability, including Stop and Stop Limit orders on Nasdaq securities. The new release, version 4.1, will also contain other features, such as Smart Order Routing through TradeScout(TM) and multiple direct ECN order delivery.

"We strive to give our customers the best trading systems available to execute their orders," says TradeCast Ltd. President Bobby Earthman, "The new features in TradeCast Elite 4.1 are ones that our customers have asked for -- Our customers talked. We listened. The result is the most comprehensive software version we've released since our company's inception."

TradeCast Elite, which has been a favorite among highly active and professional traders for years, now includes direct order routing to Herzog(TM), BRUT, and Attain(R) to help ensure orders are filled quickly and at a great price. Herzog, one of the largest Market Makers in the U.S., provides customers the ability to send Stop and Stop Limit orders on Nasdaq securities. BRUT, one of the fastest growing ECNs in the market, allows customers to execute both market and limit orders. Attain provides customers with more choices when placing limit orders.

Smart Order Routing(TM) through TradeScout has been dramatically enhanced in TradeCast Elite version 4.1. TradeScout now automatically scans Level II data and sends out orders to direct-connection ECNs according to their available share size. If a single ECN can fulfill the whole order, then that ECN will be sent the entire order. However, if there are not enough shares available from the first ECN, TradeScout will send the remaining shares to the next qualified ECN with the most available shares, and so on until the order is fulfilled. In addition, to help ensure the order is filled at a great price, TradeScout automatically searches out Market Makers and non-direct ECNs with shares. To round out TradeScout's capabilities, customers will also be able to choose to send orders on SOESSM and SelectNet(R)

TradeCast Elite 4.1 offers a new SelectNet Preference II keystroke which allows users to easily choose which Market Maker or ECN within the inside market they would like to execute their order. The new keystroke also allows users to keep the entry window open and send multiple orders in rapid succession to multiple Market Makers or ECNs.

Multiple Direct ECN order delivery has also been added to TradeCast Elite 4.1. This feature allows customers to send orders to all direct ECNs at the inside market for the number of shares specified in a customer's default settings. When an order is sent, an ECN box will appear showing only the ECNs available with direct connections. This feature will base the default share amounts on the default settings. However, if a customer chooses to add the next price level, the ECN window will only show the available direct connect ECNs at the next level.

For aggressive traders who would like to buy or sell all available shares offered by a direct ECN in the inside market, we have added the Direct ECN Monster function. The Direct ECN Monster feature will send the ECN orders for their total displayed share amount.

The new TradeCast Elite 4.1 software offers enhanced Island(R) (ISLD) bid and offer keystroke functionality. The ISLD keys now accept increments as small as 1/256th. The new functionality gives customers the ability to place an order in front of the best Bid and best Ask on Island Book. The keys can be configured to automatically "shave" (subtract) a 1/256th off the best Ask, or add a 1/256th to the best Bid.

Reserve order capability has also been added to the TradeCast Elite 4.1 software allowing customers to place an order for a certain number of shares, but only "display" a fraction of the whole order on the Level II window. This capability is useful if a customer wants to buy a large number of shares, but does not want to show their entire order.

TradeCast TradeCharts have been enhanced in the TradeCast Elite 4.1 software. Customers now have the ability to adjust the candlestick widths and overlay multiple stock symbols using different plot styles making the charts easier to read.

The last significant feature that has been added to the TradeCast Elite 4.1 software is the ability to customize the entire keyboard. Customers can now customize all the letters and numbers, a-z and 0-9, with or without using Shift, Alt, or Ctrl keys. This feature provides customers with greater flexibility to execute their trades.

"As more people begin to trade electronically, it becomes more important to diversify our offerings," says Earthman. "For years we've made our software to cater to the professional trader. Now that we are taking on customers with a variety of trading philosophies, it's important to give them the tools and flexibility they need to trade efficiently."

The new TradeCast 4.1 software can be downloaded from the TradeCast Web site at www.tradecast.com or to have the software shipped via U.S. mail call 877-627-6700.

TradeCast Ltd. (www.tradecast.com) pioneered direct-access online stock trading. The Houston-based company developed the first "point-and-click" trading software enabling individual equity traders to trade stocks online and was the first company to tie directly into the Nasdaq SOES mainframe computer in a Windows(R) format. TradeCast's software (now offered through its affiliate, TradeCast Securities Ltd.) allows traders to "Go Direct(TM)" by executing trades through TradeCast Securities Ltd., a licensed broker/dealer, member NASD/SIPC.

www.tradecast.com