BARRON'S PREVIEW
In Flux.
Abigail Johnson stands to inherit Fidelity's leadership - and its big
strategic issues. She's already made promising changes at the Boston-based
company. Some wonder what distinctive mark she will leave on Fidelity, as
her father and grandfather did before her. Part of Barron's special
quarterly section on mutual funds.
Slim Pickings.
The equities bloodbath in the third quarter sent investors fleeing to the
what they perceived to be the safest parts of the financial market - funds
investing in Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities. Barron's
explores whether that's still a good strategy.
Kahn-Trary Opinions.
Holding tight to the time-tested tenets of value investing, New York
investment management firm Kahn Brothers is thriving in the current bear
market. Barron's lists the family-run firm's current picks.
Shake Up.
With the appointment of Kim Goodwin to the post of Chief Investment Officer,
Boston-based State Street Research has made the rare move of pinning hopes
on a management shake-up to boost returns, Barron's reports. Will other
mutual fund companies follow suit?
Under Scrutiny.
The Global Security Risk Monitor database currently lists 260 companies that
it says are operating in nations with links to terrorists. Although these
companies are presumed to be engaged in legal, commercial activities, they
may face unique business risks, especially if large public pension funds
decide to divest their holdings in companies operating in controversial
areas. Barron's names some of the well-known companies on the list.
More Revealing.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is weighing proposals to further
limit how fund companies portray their performance in advertisements,
Barron's reports.
Outside the Box.
By revolutionizing production and inventory control, Smurfit-Stone Container
has succeeded in minimizing the price swings that have plagued the
paperboard industry. Barron's examines what this means for Smurfit-Stone's
earnings prospects and the industry as a whole.
Electrochromic Dreams.
The market for mirror-mounted displays and controls is heating up, as more
consumers demand the latest technologies and major automakers embrace the
features, which can be added without major retooling. Barron's profiles the
company which owns the technology behind many of the innovations.
Electronic Investor:
Angling for Bargains. Barron's rates web-based security screeners, which
can make it easier to find good equity-investment ideas.
This week Barron's interviews Paul Wick, manager of the Seligman
Communications and Information fund, which has posted more moderate losses
than most rival technology portfolios this year. Barron's discusses his
outlook for the tech industry and his picks and pans.
COMPLETE STORIES are available at Barron's Online (http://www.barrons.com) and in Barron's magazine.
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