LOW-PRICED STOCKS are rising

fastest this year, reversing longtime

trend that favored costlier issues.

Analysis of 1,064 stocks listed on

New York Stock Exchange found the

following price gains since Dec. 31:

$1-$10 Up 27%

$10-$20 Up 19%

$20-$30 Up 16%

$30-$40 Up 13%

$40-$60 Up 11%

$60-$70 Up 4%

Over $70 Up 5%

STUDEBAKER SMALL CAR will be company's hope for survival in U.S. auto race. It will roll out a small car, shorter and cheaper than its Scotsman, which has a wheelbase of 116 1/2 inches and lists for as low as $1,795.

NO-SHOW FINES for air passengers who book seats but fail to show for flights will be dropped in August. Though fines cut no-shows, they were too costly for airlines to administer.

FARM LAND VALUES are still on rise. Value of U.S. rural real estate has jumped to record $116.3 billion, v. $109.5 billion a year ago, with three-quarters of the total value in land alone. Buildings on average farm are worth $5,600.

NIGHT TURNPIKE TOLLS at cut rates are boosting traffic and revenues on Florida's 108-mile Sunshine State Parkway from Miami to Fort Pierce. After state slashed tolls for after-dark travel from $2.40 to $1.75 per car, income rose 7.5%.

BIGGEST DIVIDEND increases paid to stockholders this year have come from financial companies (payments up 39% from year ago), office-equipment makers (up 20%), shipbuilders and ships operators (up 15%), retailers (up 12%). Biggest drops came in mining (off 24%), textiles (off 24%), railroads and rail equipment (off 15%).

PUERTO RICO'S BOOM is being slowed by U.S. recession. From February through April, only 13 U.S. firms announced that they planned to open plants on island, v. 42 plants during same period last year. But Puerto Rico reports pickup since mid-April, expects more than 20 starts this month.

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