Investor Confidence Index Rises from 69.5 to 73.0 in February
BOSTON, MA -- 02/19/2008

State Street Global Markets, the investment research and trading arm of State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT), today released the results of the State Street Investor Confidence Index® for February 2008.

Global Investor Confidence rose by 3.5 points from a revised January level of 69.5 to reach 73.0. Amongst North American investors, confidence rose 6.0 points from 72.2 to 78.2, but elsewhere, risk appetite was more muted, with European investor confidence falling from 85.8 to 83.7, and Asian investor confidence treading water barely rising from 85.4 to 85.7.

Developed through State Street Global Markets' research partnership, State Street Associates, by Harvard University professor Ken Froot and State Street Associates Director Paul O'Connell, the State Street Investor Confidence Index measures investor confidence on a quantitative basis by analyzing the actual buying and selling patterns of institutional investors. The index is based on financial theory that assigns precise meaning to changes in investor risk appetite, or the willingness of investors to allocate their portfolios to equities. The more of their portfolio that institutional investors are willing to devote to equities, the greater their risk appetite or confidence.

"This month saw a continuation of the modest improvement in Global Investor confidence that we witnessed in January," commented Froot. "The small increase of 3.5 points takes place against the backdrop of a decline in market volatility from the very high levels witnessed earlier this winter, and reflects an understanding that, while many risks remain, the extreme risk-aversion displayed by institutions in late 2007 was perhaps overdone."

"Looking across the data, we continue to see a fair degree of restraint amongst institutional investors, but this is balanced against a willingness to take on select risks," added O'Connell. "Country and sector allocations retain a defensive posture, but recent flows into market segments such as Latin America and global financials indicate a somewhat improved risk appetitive."

The index is released globally at 10 a.m. Eastern time in Boston on the second to last Tuesday of each month. More information on the State Street Investor Confidence Index, including frequently asked questions and a calendar of release dates, is available at http://www.statestreet.com/investorconfidenceindex. The previous month's calculations for the index are revised to account for trading activity through the end of the reporting period.

This news announcement contains forward-looking statements as defined by United States securities laws, including statements about the financial outlook and business environment. Those statements are based on current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those related to the pace at which State Street adds new clients or at which existing clients use additional services, the value of global and regional financial markets, the pace of cross-border investment activity, changes in interest rates, the pace of worldwide economic growth and rates of inflation, the extent of volatility in currency markets, consolidations among clients and competitors, State Street's business mix, the dynamics of markets State Street serves, and State Street's success at integrating and converting acquisitions into its business. Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by any forward-looking statements are set forth in State Street's 2006 annual report and subsequent SEC filings. State Street encourages investors to read the corporation's annual report, particularly the section on factors that may affect financial results, and its subsequent SEC filings for additional information with respect to any forward-looking statements and prior to making any investment decision. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, February 19, 2008, and the company will not undertake efforts to revise those forward-looking statements to reflect events after this date.
 
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