IMPROVED FINANCE PAGE BEGINS TODAY, WILL BE PUBLISHED EACH SATURDAY

An improved weekly Finance page returns to the Southeast Missourian today. It will be published each Saturday.

The page features 300 of the most active stocks on the New York Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange plus National Association of Securities Dealers over-the-counter trading. In addition, the list includes about 80 reader-requested stocks.

Grand Central Stocks is the newest stocks delivery service of the Associated Press. The new listings provide much more information about each stock. This weekly data includes five-year highs and lows, close, weekly price changes, weekly percentage changes, year-to-date percentage changes from Dec. 31, one-year percentage changes, volume, percent of share, dividends and both actual and projected price/earnings ratios.

Also appearing on the page each week will be 280 of the largest mutual funds in terms of assets. Missouri tax-free mutuals will be included in the list.

Rounding out the page will be a weekly market roundup graphic from the Associated Press and a listing of mortgage rates from area financial institutions.

Readers who would like to see a particular stock or mutual fund listed on the page can direct their requests to Joni Adams, managing editor, at 335-6611, Ext. 121.