Where the Earnings Are WINNERS FINANCIAL Favorable interest rates and merger mania strengthen securities-firm stocks RETAILERS The lower cost of goods made in Asia boosts the bottom line--especially for apparel SERVICE Health care, luxury hotel, and airline companies can hike prices thanks to strong U.S. consumer spending LOSERS CAPITAL GOODS Lack of pricing power threatens to shrink profit margins BASIC MATERIALS Price weakness in commodities slams everything from oil to soybeans SEMICONDUCTORS Plunging Far East demand hurts U.S. exports; weak Asian currencies give Asian rivals a pricing edge Return to main story

Updated June 18, 1998 by bwwebmaster
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