Standard & Poor’s announced Wednesday that eight companies are being eliminated from the S&P/TSX composite index as a result of the quarterly index review.

The changes are effective ate close of trading on Friday, March 21, 2003.

Cogeco, Westport Innovations, Sleeman Breweries, Cryocath Technologies, Inex Pharmaceuticals, Pangeo Pharma, Magellan Aerospace and Crystallex International are being dropped from the TSX benchmark index.

Eldorado Gold is being added.

The changes leave the successor to the TSE 300 index with 220 companies.

These changes will also affect the S&P/TSX capped composite index, S&P/TSX Canadian smallcap index and TSX 200 Index.

Stocks added or removed from the S&P/TSX composite index will also be added to or removed from the appropriate Global Industry Classification Standard indices.