Dow Jones Newswires -- July 6, 1999
DJ J. Hancock's McManus Sees Mkt Rising 5%-10% By Year End
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Given the healthy economic backdrop, the stock market should post a 5% to 10% gain by year end, according to Paul McManus, portfolio manager of the John Hancock Core Equity Fund.
"The checkpoints we're going to be watching, whether it's earnings comparisons, interest rates, inflation, economic growth, all these things look pretty good for the remainder of the year," McManus told CNBC in an interview Tuesday.
Although McManus said he would keep a watchful eye on oil prices and international developments, he sees little on the horizon that would trip up this bull market.
Accordingly, he sees good value in several large-cap drug stocks, including Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK).
McManus also likes tech bellwethers, including Dell Computer Corp. (DELL), Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT); and some names in the financial services sector, including Citigroup Inc. (C) and AmSouth Bancorp (ASO).
However, McManus said investors should avoid cyclical stocks, which have had a strong run in the first six months, because pricing pressures in those industries continue.
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