By Compiled from Times wires
Published June 8, 2003
Odds are that companies such as Sun Microsystems, Dynegy and Lucent Technologies may never see their stock prices climb above $10 again. Shares of all three companies have lost 90 percent of their value or more during the bear market and are trading below $5, classified as penny stocks. Investment bank Crest Advisors says about 90 percent of stocks that dropped below $5 between 1992 and last year never returned to double digits.
You may not have the homeowners insurance protection you think you have. The National Association of Independent Insurers says most policies cover the structure of a house for replacement-cost value, but its contents for "actual cash value." That means the insurer deducts depreciation from the overall value of personal property before paying a claim. That amount can be much less than the cost to repair or replace the items. With replacement-cost coverage, the insurer will repair or replace items at today's prices.
Job hunting after 50 can present challenges that WSJ.com's Career Journal says have to do with money, fear and prejudice. Older applicants may be perceived as requiring higher pay and being difficult to manage. They're also often perceived as being out of energy and out of touch. Job seekers can counter these obstacles through networking, tireless job hunting, making resumes sing and dressing crisply.
New car owners no longer have to avoid accelerating quickly to try to save gas. Consumer Reports says more efficient engines and transmissions in new models help minimize wasted energy and optimize engine performance. The magazine says top performers are the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, followed by the Toyota Echo, Volkswagen Golf GLS TDI and Chevrolet Cavalier.
Summer brings an opportunity to teach kids about finances by including them in vacation planning. JP Morgan Fleming Asset Management suggests asking kids to research ticket prices before a trip by looking for bargains online, or with advance-purchase rules in mind. On the trip each evening, total the costs to date - the kids may be surprised.
