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Reports that some of the most prominent Indian chief executive officers, corporate presidents, entrepreneurs, and inventors in the world are graduates of the Indian Institute of Technology. Strengths in physics and mechanical engineering; Computer science; Geophysics and rocket science. INSET: `I'M TOO SMART FOR YOU TO PULL THIS ONE ON ME.'.

The article discusses the resignation of James Dimon as co-chief executive of Salomon Smith Barney and the appointment of Deryck C. Maughan as vice-chairman by Sanford I. Weill and John S. Reed, the co-chief executive officers of Citigroup. It is said that the rapid-fire moves left everyone from Citigroup shareholders to Salomon Smith Barney Inc. employees in a state of shock. However, the question is raised whether that style is appropriate for running a global financial-services behemoth.

The article reports on the failure of Long-Term Capital Management LP's quantitative investing model market which led to major losses of finance companies in the U.S. August 1998 may go down as a watershed in the history of high technology investing. The computer models failed because of lack of liquidity, breakdown of patterns, limited application and political risk.

Focuses on Sanford Weill's acquisition of Salomon Inc. for Travelers Group in September of 1997. Merger of Salomon and Smith Barney Inc.; Combined market capitalization of Travelers-Salomon-Smith Barney greater than Merrill Lynch Inc. or Chase Manhattan Corp.; Creation of one of the major global investment bankers; Details of the deal. INSETS: Weill's ride to the summit.;Wall Street's lions..

The article focuses on the effort of the journal "Business Week" in investigating several U.S. companies regarding employees retirement plan. The journal surveys 50 companies and asked them about the kinds of investment options offered to their employees and how plan participants use them. Furthermore, they inquire on the participation rates of employees.

The article reports on the rise and fall of credit card insurer SafeCard Services Inc. in the U.S. In 1969, Peter Halmos, a 25-year-old Hungarian emigrant, launched Safecard Services. It grew and went public in 1977. By 1992, the company had 400 employees, 13 million customers, and was generating $158 million in revenue and $22 million in earnings. However, the fall Safecard in 1996 served a big lesson of how incompetence and greed drove a company to its destruction.

Explains that Jamie Dimon is, at age 40, the youngest chief executive officer of a major securities firm in the U.S., namely Smith Barney. Booming profits; High returns; Low leverage; Investment banking operation. INSET: Ticker Tape in the Genes.

Discusses the initiatives of investment bank Morgan Stanley Group to penetrate the market in Third World countries such as India in 1996. Business risks faced by Morgan Stanley in Third World countries; Rivals of Morgan Stanley in the Third World; Implications for banks and banking.

Features the financial adversity confronting Salomon Brothers Inc. Reorganization of the firm under management team of Robert Denham and Deryck C. Maughan; Appraisal of the firm's strengths and weaknesses; Role in global investment banking; Prospects for recovery; Investment in the firm by Warren Buffett. INSETS: THE LION IN WINTER;What's Ailing Salomon..

Reports that shareholder Kirk Kerkorian and former Chrysler chairman Lee A. Iacocca's are planning to take over Chrysler Corp. Statement by Chrysler's owner Bob Eaton that Chrysler Corp. is not for sale; Claim that Kerkorian can easily pull together financing for the deal and the whole things can be done without impairing the auto maker's financial strength; Information that Kerkorian began accumulating Chrysler shares five years ago at an average of 12 dollar each, when Chrysler was in deep financial trouble.

Reports on criticism in the United States to the operation of stockbrokers and stockbrokerage firms operate. Critics' focus on widely accepted ways to doing business; Tendency to systematically put investors at a disadvantage; Effect of commission compensation policies. INSETS: AT THE SEC, A DEFT CRUSADER FOR REFORM;SHOOTING STRAIGHT-- AND STRIKING IT RICH;A CHAMPION FOR AN EMBATTLED INDUSTRY.;HOW ONE NEST EGG GOT SCRAMBLED

This article explains that discount stockbroker Charles Schwab's strategy for profits involves reaching out to individual investors. It offers no-fee mutual funds, computerized stock trading, and specialized banking services with the use of shrewd marketing and innovative technology. INSET: Seeing the world through a different.., by Russell Mitchell..

Features the Long Term Capital Management LP finance company. Recruitment of executives from the financial world by founder John W. Meriwether; Decline of Salomon Brothers' profitability after Meriwether's departure from the firm; Penchant for risky investment practices. INSET: How to make $275 million in the bond market..

This article focuses on the U.S. stock market crisis of 1994. Financial institutions like brokerage houses, commercial banks, mutual funds and hedge funds have suffered losses. Permanent losses were experienced by traders who were forced to liquidate their positions. Computer-driven strategies were used by traders to produce high returns with modest risk. However, these strategies embodied too much leverage and contained more risk. The crisis affected several sensitive markets like municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities and emerging market securities.

Profiles Sanford I. Weill, owner of Connecticut-based Traveler's Corp. Resignation from American Express; Making acquisitions; Prudent plotting of expansion plans; Management style; Reputation as aggressive bottom-fisher; Cutting down on company expenses; Strong personality; Dealing with operational issues. INSET: WEILL'S MUSHROOMING EMPIRE.

Explores whether Warren E. Buffet, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., can sort some problems at Solomon Brothers Inc., including an alleged effort to improperly dominate Treasury auctions in the U.S. Role of Buffet as interim chairman of Salomon; Description of transgressions committed by Salomon; Comments on the customers towards Salomon; Information on government investigations into the matter. INSET: At Salomon, the king is dead--but few are crying, by A. Bianco....

He was a high-flying trader with a taste for flashy cars, pretty women, and fast cash. But when Kevin Ingram turned his WorldTrade Center office into a money laundromat for […]

Profiles Jon Corzine, a former Goldman Sachs and Co. chairman and chief executive who is planning to run for senator in New Jersey in 2000. Background information on Corzine; Political party affiliations; Predilections.

Offers a look at how well four money managers did with stock choices in 1998 and offers ten stock selections from four other money managers for 1999. Poor performance of 1998 choices; Larry Sondike and his choices for 1999; Tracy Stouffer of Federated International Small Fund and where she is investing; Roger McNamee's favorite category; Roy and Rose Papp of Papp America-Abroad Fund.

Focuses on Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and the appointment of Robert H. Benmosche as chief executive officer. Why MetLife is one of the most stodgy and bureaucratic mutual life insurers; Challenges facing Benmosche; MetLife's initial public offering and how it will work; Benmosche's plans for the company; Benmosche's management style.

Highlights the concerns of U.S. banks and brokerages about the equity positions of Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM). Hedge fund's involvement in "pairs" trading, risk arbitrage, and bets on overall market volatility; Concern about a massive position in Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport; Possible impact of the liquidation of LTCM. INSETS: Why total-return swaps scare Wall Street;UBS failed risk management 101.

This article reports on the business practices of banker Marc Harris. A sophisticated marketer Harris has positioned himself at the intersection of two major trends. The huge popularity of the Internet is allowing aggressive offshore operators to reach a whole new universe of gullible U. S. investors. Sitting in his fifth-floor offices in a Panama City high-rise, Harris, an immaculately groomed 33-year-old ex-American citizen, says that 80% of his "several thousand" clients are Americans or Canadians. Harris claims his firm has $35 million in capital and $1 billion under management in various trusts and investments.

Presents the stocks selected by professional investors William Miller, Marianne Hay, William Jurika and Eric Ryback, if they were given $100,000 to invest. Includes America Online; Telebras; American Classic Voyages; Aetna.

Reports on U.S.-based General Motors Acceptance Corp.'s marketing of bonds through Chicago Corp. via the Internet. Benefits and advantages of Internet bond marketing; Suggestions and tips for Internet marketing. INSETS: Exploiting the Internet;For This Virtual IPO, Reality Bytes.

This article explains that U.S. municipal bond dealers are in alarm over Orange County, California's announcement that its investment fund faced losses of $1.5 billion. The county's investment strategy relied on derivative securities and leverage. INSET: Taxpayer, beware (public entities with investment losses)..

This article explains that two alternate versions of the truth are emerging in the Kidder Peabody and Co. bond trading scandal. Kidder claims bond trader Joseph Jett acted on his own in conducting phantom trades that led to business losses. Jett insisted that his actions were directed by senior executives. Results of an internal investigation support Kidder's position. INSET: Gary Lynch--`just the facts ma'am'..

Discusses how for the past several years, Prudential Securities Inc., the brokerage subsidiary of the Prudential Insurance Co. of America, has been plagued by lawsuits from angry investors who lost hundreds of millions of dollars in limited partnerships sold by Pru Securities brokers. Problems not over yet; Comments from President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hardwick Simmons; Future of the company.