PITTSBURGH, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The median plan for the 434 corporate, foundation, endowment, public, Taft-Hartley and healthcare funds that make up the Mellon Analytical Solutions U.S. Master Trust Universe posted a combined 5.81% return for the fourth quarter. All of the plans in the universe showed positive results for the quarter, with 82% matching or outperforming the universe's composite benchmark (Russell 3000(R) Index* 50%, Lehman Brothers(R) Aggregate 40%, MSCI(R) World ex-U.S. 10%). This marks the universe's strongest full-year performance since 2003 and represents the fifth consecutive year of positive results. The U.S. Master Trust Universe represents a market value of $1.2 trillion with an average plan size of $3.4 billion. "2006 was the year of the equity, with both domestic and international markets posting strong returns - significantly outperforming fixed income," said Greg Stewart, director of product management, investor performance. "Of particular notice was the return experienced in non-U.S. Equity, with an asset class median result of nearly 26% for the year. A combination of strong local market performance, in addition to the weakening U.S. dollar during the quarter, resulted in favorable returns for U.S. investors." Non-U.S. Equities, which led all asset classes for the quarter with a median return of 10.70%, lagged the MSCI(R) AC W XUS Index return of 11.21%. U.S. Equities generated a return of 7.03%, slightly behind the Russell 3000(R) Index return of 7.12%. U.S. Fixed Income generated a median result of 1.28%, versus the Lehman Brothers(R) Aggregate return of 1.24%. Non-U.S. Fixed Income posted a median result of 2.89%, ahead of the Citigroup(R) Non-US Dollar World Government Bond Index return of 2.09%. Endowments were the top performing plan type for the fourth quarter with a 6.24% median return, followed by foundations, public, corporate, Taft-Hartley, and healthcare. The average asset allocation in the U.S. Master Trust Universe for the fourth quarter was: U.S. Equity 38%, U.S. Fixed Income 23%, Non-U.S. Equity 20%, Non-U.S. Fixed Income 1%, Alternative Investments 7%, Real Estate 2%, Cash 1%, and Other (Private Equity, Oil, Gas, etc.) 8%. Mellon Analytical Solutions provides performance measurement, attribution and investment analysis services to more than 3,100 institutional investors in 25 countries and is responsible for $6.8 trillion in assets under measurement. Mellon Analytical Solutions' professional staff consists of more than 600 employees operating in 12 cities in five countries. Information about Mellon Analytical Solutions is available at http://www.mellon.com/mas. Mellon Financial Corporation is a global financial services company. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Mellon is one of the world's leading providers of financial services for institutions, corporations and high net worth individuals, providing asset management, private wealth management, asset servicing and payment solutions and investor services. Mellon has approximately $5.5 trillion in assets under management, administration or custody, including $995 billion under management. News and other information about Mellon is available at http://www.mellon.com/. Mellon Analytical Solutions Trust Universes Median Plan Returns Period Ending December 31, 2006 Universe Number of 4Q2006 One-Year Five-Years 10-Years Participants Master Trust Total Fund 434 5.81 13.61 9.01 8.93 Corporate Plans 234 5.72 13.23 8.74 8.80 Foundations 65 6.11 13.61 9.27 9.85 Endowments 59 6.24 14.91 9.88 9.19 Public Plans 47 5.8 14.33 9.70 8.88 Taft-Hartley Plans 16 5.56 12.25 8.37 8.63 Healthcare Plans 19 4.49 10.18 7.05 7.21 Universe Benchmark: Russell 3000(R) Index 50%, Lehman Brothers(R) Aggregate 40%, MSCI(R) World ex-U.S., 10%) 5.04 12.08 7.41 8.01 *Russell Investment Group is the owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to its indexes. DATASOURCE: Mellon Financial Corporation CONTACT: Jessica Hancock of Mellon Financial Corporation, +1-617-722-6854, Web site: http://www.mellon.com/ http://www.mellon.com/mas

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