EVX VanEck Environmental Services ETF

NEW YORK, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Amex Environmental Services Index (AXENV) rose 4.59 percent in December and gained 37.20 percent for the year ending December 31, 2006.* AXENV is a modified equal-dollar-weighted index that is comprised of publicly traded companies involved in waste management and related activities. These companies offer a full range of environmental services to residential, industrial, municipal and commercial customers; such services include waste collection and disposal, hazardous waste services, recycling, remediation and environmental clean-up services, wastewater management and environmental consulting. As of December 31, 2006, AXENV included 26 securities. AXENV is rebalanced quarterly. The next rebalancing will occur on March 16, 2006. The Market Vectors -- Environmental Services ETF (AMEX:EVX) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to replicate, as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of AXENV. EVX generally holds all of the securities that comprise AXENV in proportion to their weighting in AXENV. Options on EVX are listed on the Amex. * Past performance does not guarantee future results. AXENV's return does not represent the performance of any fund. AXENV charges no fees, including management fees or brokerage expenses, and no such fees or expenses were deducted from the performance shown. Investors cannot invest directly in AXENV. Please call 1.888.MKT.VCTR or visit http://www.vaneck.com/evx for the most recent month-end performance of EVX. This information will be available no later than seven business days after the most recent month end. About Exchange-Traded Funds ETFs are passively managed baskets of securities that trade in a manner similar to stocks. They have grown in popularity as investment tools because of their relatively low expense ratios and the tax efficiency they offer compared to most mutual funds. Investors can buy and sell ETFs intra-day and they can hold them both long and short, offering the opportunity to prosper from both bear and bull markets. About the American Stock Exchange The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) offers trading across a full range of equities, options and exchange traded funds (ETFs), including structured products and HOLDRS(SM). In addition to its role as a national equities market, the Amex is the pioneer of the ETF, responsible for bringing the first domestic product to market in 1993. Leading the industry in ETF listings, the Amex lists 222 ETFs to date. The Amex is also one of the largest options exchanges in the U.S., trading options on broad-based and sector indexes as well as domestic and foreign stocks. For more information, please visit http://www.amex.com/. About Van Eck Global Founded in 1955, Van Eck Associates Corporation was among the first U.S. money managers helping investors achieve greater diversification through global investing. Today the firm continues the 50+ year tradition by offering global investment choices in hard assets, emerging markets, precious metals including gold, and other specialized asset classes. Van Eck Associates Corporation mutual funds are sold nationwide through retail brokers, financial planners and investment advisors. Designed for investors seeking innovative choices for portfolio diversification, they are often categorized in asset classes having returns with low correlations to those of more traditional U.S. equity and fixed income investments. Van Eck Associates Corporation also offers exchange-traded funds, separate accounts and alternative investments. In addition, it offers the Worldwide Insurance Trust Funds, a series of investment choices within the variable annuity contracts and variable life policies of widely known and highly regarded insurers. About the Amex Environmental Services Index (AXENV) AXENV is a modified equal-dollar-weighted index comprised of common stocks or ADRs of publicly traded companies that engage in business activities that may benefit from the global increase in demand for consumer waste disposal, removal and storage of industrial by-products and related environmental services, including waste collection, transfer and disposal services, recycling services, soil remediation, wastewater management and environmental consulting services. As of December 31, 2006, AXENV included 26 securities. The Amex launched AXENV on September 29, 2006. All performance information presented for AXENV covering the period prior to October 7, 2004 is based on hypothetical, back-tested data. Prior to October 7, 2004, AXENV was not calculated in real time by an independent calculation agent. Hypothetical, back-tested performance has inherent limitations and is not indicative of future results. No representation is being made that any investment will achieve performance similar to that shown. AXENV is calculated using a modified equal-dollar weighting methodology. Only companies with a market capitalization greater than $100 million and a three-month trading price greater than $3.00 that have a daily average traded volume of at least $1 million over the past three months are eligible for inclusion in AXENV. The top four components, ranked by market capitalization, are equally weighted to collectively represent 40% of AXENV. The bottom five components are equally weighted to collectively represent 10% of AXENV and the remaining components are equally weighted to collectively represent 50% of AXENV. AXENV composition and share weightings are reviewed quarterly. The value of AXENV is disseminated every 15 seconds between the hours of approximately 9:30 am and 4:15 pm Eastern Time. For a more complete description of AXENV, please read the EVX prospectus. AXENV, a trademark of the Amex, is licensed for use by Van Eck Associates Corporation in connection with EVX. EVX is not sponsored or endorsed by the Amex and the Amex makes no warranty or representation as to the accuracy and/or completeness of AXENV or results to be obtained by any person from use of AXENV in connection with trading of EVX. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Market Vectors ETF shares can be bought and sold only through a broker (who may charge a commission) and cannot be redeemed with the issuing fund. The market price of Fund shares may be more or less than their net asset value. Investors may call 1.888.MKT.VCTR or visit http://www.vaneck.com/evx for a free prospectus. Investors should consider the investment objective, risks, and charges and expenses of EVX carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about EVX. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. DATASOURCE: Van Eck Global CONTACT: Mike MacMillan, or Andrew Schiff, +1-212-473-4442, , both of MacMillan Communications Web site: http://www.vaneck.com/evx

Copyright