State Street Global Advisors Introduces the First Emerging Asia Pacific Small Cap Exchange Traded Fund

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA)*, the asset management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), today announced that the SPDR^® S&P^® Small Cap Emerging Asia Pacific ETF (Symbol: GMFS) began trading on the NYSE Arca on January 12, 2012. The first emerging Asia Pacific small cap ETF, the new fund provides investors with access to companies poised to benefit from the growth of emerging Asia’s middle class. Its annual expense ratio is 0.65 percent.

The SPDR S&P Small Cap Emerging Asia Pacific ETF seeks to track the performance of the S&P Asia Pacific Emerging Under $2 Billion Index. The Index is a float-adjusted market capitalization weighted benchmark that includes publicly listed companies with a total market capitalization between $100 million and $2 billion. Each individual stock is capped at a maximum of 25 percent of the index weight, and the top five stocks are capped at a maximum of 50 percent of the index weight. Among the countries historically covered in the Index are China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand. As of December 31, 2011, the Index was comprised of 1,455 securities.

"Emerging market small cap stocks are an attractive opportunity for many investors, as broad emerging market equity funds are often dominated by large cap companies that rely on developed world demand,” said James Ross, senior managing director and global head of SPDR Exchange Traded Funds at State Street Global Advisors. "In providing investors with precise access to an asset class with the potential to provide portfolio growth and diversification benefits, the SPDR S&P Small Cap Emerging Asia Pacific ETF enhances our family of emerging market SPDR ETFs, which includes the SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF.”

State Street manages more than $271** billion in SPDR ETF assets worldwide (as of December 31, 2011) and is one of the largest ETF providers globally.

About SPDR Exchange Traded Funds

SPDR ETFs are a comprehensive family spanning an array of international and domestic asset classes. SPDR ETFs are managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Bank and Trust Company. The funds provide professional investors with the flexibility to select investments that are precisely aligned to their investment strategy. Recognized as the industry pioneer, State Street created the first ETF in 1993 (SPDR S&P 500^® – Ticker SPY). Since then, we’ve sustained our place as an industry innovator through the introduction of many ground-breaking products, including first-to-market launches with gold, international real estate, international fixed income and sector ETFs. For more information, visit www.spdrs.com.

About State Street Global Advisors

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) is a global leader in asset management. The firm is relied on by sophisticated investors worldwide for its disciplined investment process, powerful global investment platform and access to every major asset class, capitalization range and style. SSgA is the asset management business of State Street Corporation, one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors.

*SPDR ETFs are managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Bank & Trust Company.

**This AUM includes the assets of the SPDR Gold Trust (approx. $63 billion as of December 31, 2011), for which State Street Global Markets, LLC, an affiliate of State Street Global Advisors serves as the marketing agent.

Important Risk Information:

ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.

Bond funds contain interest rate risk (as interest rates rise bond prices usually fall); the risk of issuer default; issuer credit risk; liquidity risk; and inflation risk.

Foreign investments involve greater risks than U.S. investments, including political and economic risks and the risk of currency fluctuations.

"SPDR” is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC ("S&P”) and has been licensed for use by State Street Corporation. No financial product offered by State Street or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P.

Distributor: State Street Global Markets, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. References to State Street may include State Street Corporation and its affiliates. Certain State Street affiliates provide services and receive fees from the SPDR ETFs.

Before investing, consider the funds investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call 1-866-787-2257 or visit www.spdrs.com. Read it carefully.

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