Investment Figures of the Week

Investment Figures of the Week

A boost in short-term interest rates by the Federal Reserve sent the financial

markets into a tizzy on Apr. 18, with yields of 30-year Treasuries climbing to

7.42%. Leading banks raised the prime rate to 6.75%. The stock market reacted

with dismay, with blue chips hit hardest. The Dow Jones industrials fell 41

points, to 3620, and continued to fall during the next two days. But options

traders were strongly bearish--a positive con-trarian indicator.