Business memo 11/11/02

MERS/Goodwill opens office in Cape Girardeau

Metropolitan Employment and Rehabilitation Services/Goodwill Industries has opened a Cape Girardeau office at 332 Silver Springs Road and will provide vocational rehabilitation services for people with employment barriers.

With headquarters in St. Louis, MERS recently merged with Goodwill Industries to form a large nonprofit corporation offering evaluations, training and job placement for the disabled workers of Missouri.

Phillip Wagoner, the director of the new office, has 26 years experience in the field of vocational rehabilitation. Case manager for the office is Sandra Deevers, who has 20 years experience in professional counseling.

Analysts caution sharp gains unlikely to continue

NEW YORK -- It was what investors wanted to see: After hitting five- and six-year lows, the market stages a stunning October rally, raising hopes the month would live up to its reputation as a bear killer.

But analysts say investors shouldn't declare a bull market just yet. Sparked by third-quarter corporate profits that beat lowered expectations, the rally was sustained mostly by buying momentum. That could spell some trouble once investors return their attention to the soft economic recovery.

The Dow Jones industrials and Nasdaq composite posted their third straight weekly advance Friday, a distinction not seen since the period ending Aug. 23.

-- From staff, wire reports