COMPANY/          STOCK      52-WEEK        COMMENTS
(TICKER SYMBOL)   PRICE*     HIGH/LOW

COMVERSE          $114.81   $124.75/62.00   Will benefit from greater
TECHNOLOGY (CMVT)                           sales of its voice mail,
                                            Internet software

LEHMAN            $85.72     $86.20/30.31   Its underwriters will
BROTHERS (LEH)                              profit from issuance of
                                            more corporate debt

LINENS 'N         $34.00     $36.38/17.94   Lower interest rates will
THINGS (LIN)                                encourage sales of homes
                                            and furnishing

MERRILL           $75.10     $80.00/42.00   Insecure investors may
LYNCH (MER)                                 turn to its brokers for
                                            advice

ORACLE (ORCL)     $30.44     $46.47/21.50   Strong company, popular
                                            products

WAL-MART          $54.20     $64.94/41.44   Low rates will reduce
STORES (WMT)                                discounter's costs,
                                            hiking consumer spending


* Jan. 29