By Jay Baxter, February 12, 2001, 6:00 p.m. PST

While most people are anxiously awaiting Valentine's Day and all it has to offer, we here at the Hollywood Stock Exchange® simply can't contain ourselves over the excitement of Feb. 13 -– the day the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces nominations for the 73rd Annual Academy Awards. Chocolates and flowers may do it for some, but frankly, an out-of-the-blue, Marisa Tomei (MTOME)-style Oscar nomination really puts us in the mood for love.

Traders seem pretty jazzed as well. For the past few weeks, they've been feverishly trading HSX NominOptions, special securities issued for artists and movies most likely to be nominated for an Oscar. Each option was offered at H$2.50. Every NominOption that receives an Oscar nod will cash out at H$6.50, while those failing to secure a nomination will delist at H$0.00.

With thirteen contenders in each of the eight categories, the possibilities seem endless. However, our crafty traders have managed to narrow it down:

BEST PICTURE
HSX traders are convinced that Gladiator (NOGLA) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (NOCRO) will each receive a Best Picture nomination. The two options are running head-to-head for the top spot, both trading at H$6.27. Hollywood golden boy Steven Soderbergh captures the third and fourth place spots with Erin Brockovich (NOSSE) and Traffic (NOSSO) at the H$6.00 mark. Almost Famous (NOFMA) rounds out the top five at H$5.59. Unfortunately, there will be little sunshine for Golden Globe favorite Sunshine (NOSUN) as its NominOption trades at the bottom of the barrel at H$0.16.

BEST DIRECTOR
Traders appear just as confident with their Best Director picks, including their top choice, Golden Globe winner Ang Lee (NOALE) for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Also trading at the H$6.00 level is Cameron Crowe (NOCCR) for Almost Famous, Ridley Scott (NORSC) for Gladiator, and Steven Soderbergh (NOSSO) for Traffic. Though it's trading at a low H$3.41, Mr. Soderbergh's NominOption for Erin Brokovich (NOSSE) completes the top five.

BEST ACTOR
While traders definitely see Oscar nominations for Tom Hanks (NOTHA), Russell Crowe (NORCR), and Geoffrey Rush (NOGRU), who are all priced at the H$6.00 mark, things aren't quite for Jamie Bell (NOJBE), trading at H$3.80, and Michael Douglas (NOMDO), at H$3.41. Traders could find themselves a last-minute bargain with Denzel Washington (NODWA) or Javier Barden (NOJBA), both priced under H$2.00.

BEST ACTRESS
Julia Roberts (NOJRO) has not only won over critics and moviegoers, but HSX traders as well. Her NominOption trades at a stellar H$6.27. Runner-ups at the H$5.00 mark include Ellen Burstyn (NOEBU) for Requiem for a Dream and Laura Liney (NOLLI) for You Can Count On Me. Joan Allen (NOJAL) and Renee Zellweger (NORZE) complete the top five. Although she was a Golden Globe nominee, traders may feel that pop-rocker Bjork (NOBJO) hasn't earned her acting stripes quite yet and won't appeal to the stuffy Academy. Her NominOption trades at H$2.63.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Traders have high hopes for the eclectic mix of old-school veterans and relative newbies, indicating identical picks as the Hollywood Foreign Press for Golden Globe nominees. On top is Golden Globe winner Benicio Del Toro (NOBDT) for Traffic and Willem Dafoe (NOWDA) for Shadow of the Vampire. Their options currently trade over H$6.00. Gladiator's Joaquin Phoenix (NOJPG) and Erin Brockovich's Albert Finney (NOAFI) are sitting pretty at H$5.49. Jeff Bridges (NOJBR) is priced at a rather low $2.89 -– a great opportunity for traders to earn some major Hollywood Dollars® if he scores a nomination.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Golden Globe winner and critical favorite Kate Hudson (NOKHU) is the cream of the crop, with her NominOption trading at a strong H$6.14 for Almost Famous. Co-star Frances McDormand (NOFMA) is in second place at H$5.49. Julie Walters (NOJWA) and Judi Dench (NOJDE) both trade at $4.58. And Catherine Zeta-Jones (NOCZE) is number five at the buy-buy-buy price of H$2.63.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Priced at H$5.88, traders think Cameron Crowe's autobiographical Almost Famous (NOOAF) is certain to win a place in the hearts of Academy members. Other favorites include You Can Count On Me (NOOYC), Erin Brokovich (NOOEB), and Unbreakable (NOOUN), all trading near H$5.00, and Billy Elliott, priced at $3.41. Anyone willing to take a chance on David Mamet's wicked State and Main (NOOST), can pick up its NominOption for a steal at H$0.68.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Traders have also determined clear favorites for the Best Adapted Screenplay category, including Traffic (NOATR), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, High Fidelity, and Chocolat, all priced under H$6.00. Before Night Falls (NOABE) has been virtually ignored by traders and is currently priced at H$2.37.

NominOptions will halt trading at 11 p.m. PST this evening.

Academy president, Robert Rehme, and actress Kathy Bates (KBATE) will announce the top nine Oscar category nominations live on Tuesday at 5:30 a.m. PST.