Featured Articles From S&P Personal Wealth.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 1999--

Read the following articles exclusively at S&P Personal Wealth (http://www.personalwealth.com). Standard & Poor's is a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies:

"April CPI Report Increases Risk of Tightening Bias by Fed" http://www.personalwealth.com

The April Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.7% overall, while the core (ex-food and energy) rate was up 0.4%, much stronger than expected. Standard & Poor's MMS says while the data increases the risk that the Fed shifts to a tightening bias as soon as next Tuesday's Federal Open Market Committee meeting, it still believes the chances are less than 50-50 at this point. One month's data is not expected to be enough to tip the balance at this point. MMS suspects that the Fed will show continued patience for now, but notes that unless there are signs of slowing in the economy, and/or some of these price trends reverse, we could see a tightening bias by the June FOMC.

"S&P Reiterates Hold on Nordstrom Shares" http://www.personalwealth.com/prn04

Standard & Poors reiterated its 3 STARS (neutral) recommendation on shares of Nordstrom Inc. (Nasdaq:NOBE) after the company posted first quarter earnings per share of $0.22 versus $0.21, $0.02 below expectations, on 5% fewer shares and 2.6% lower same-store sales. Analyst Karen Sack says while lower inventory levels and greater full-price selling increased gross margin, other expense ratios were higher. She notes that NOBE is making major changes in its merchandise management structure, which could be disruptive in the near term, and is also implementing new information technology. Word on the Street brings you comments every trading day from Wall Street's top equity analysts on stocks or industries that are moving significantly.

"Caribiner International Posts Flat 2nd Quarter Earnings, Sees Weak 2nd Half" http://www.personalwealth.com/prn03 Caribiner International (NYSE:CWC) posted $0.16 versus $0.16 second quarter earnings per share despite 8.7% lower revenues. The company expects net income for the rest of the year to be substantially below forecasts and hired Salomon SB to review its strategic alternatives. Other stocks featured in this morning's MarketMovers include Iridium World Communications (Nasdaq:IRID), Pacific Gateway Exchange (Nasdaq:PGEX), Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA), Ralston Purina (NYSE:RAL), Gillette Co. (NYSE:G), Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), 3Com Corp. (Nasdaq:COMS), and ACTV Inc. (Nasdaq:IATV).

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