Stock, Fund Tables Offer More Data
The Times has revised its Sunday stock and mutual fund listings. The aim is to make the data easier to read and more relevant. Among the key changes in the tables, which appear today beginning on C7:
* Type has been made more readable where possible.
* Stocks now are priced in decimals rather than fractions.
* Nasdaq, Nasdaq Small Cap and American Stock Exchange stocks are combined in one table.
* The largest Nasdaq and Amex stocks are highlighted in a separate table with additional data.
* Well-known and Southern California stocks are highlighted in special tables as part of an expanded Weekend Market Roundup page. Included are additional data such as "projected price-to-earnings" ratios.
* Several hundred more mutual funds are now being listed.
* Funds now are organized under a single family name in most cases rather than spread across several class categories such as A, B and C shares.
* The final figure in the fund tables is Morningstar's "star" rating for fund historical performance. A "5" rating is the top rating. This differs from the Lipper Inc. ratings previously used in The Times' tables, which used "1" as the top rating.
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The following are answers to common questions investors may have about the changes.
We are interested in reader reaction to the tables. If you have any questions or comments, e-maildaniel.gaines@latimes.com, or leave a voicemail message at (213) 237-4557.
Question: Why does The Times now publish stock prices in decimals rather than fractions?
Answer: All U.S. stock markets will switch to decimals from fractions beginning in mid-2000. The Times is switching now because many readers have indicated a preference for decimals.
Q: How are mutual fund names now abbreviated?
A: The Times had used mutual fund data from Lipper Inc. in most tables in the past. It will now use data from Morningstar Inc. The two services abbreviate fund names differently. In a few cases, the differences will change the order mutual funds and fund families appear in the table.
For example, the Vanguard Index funds now appear with all Vanguard funds, each beginning with "Idx." The popular Vanguard 500 fund is "Idx500."
To allow data on more funds to be published, Morningstar has also grouped most classes of funds under a single family name. For example, Merrill Lynch A, B, C and D funds now appear under a single header, Merrill Lynch.
