Thursday: Cash Just Keeps Flowing into Funds

Compiled by John J. Edwards III
Staff Reporter

After a nerve-jangling week of

Fed

intrigue and mad market gyrations comes the quiet of the Good Friday-Easter weekend. Some news to take along:

The

Investment Company Institute

reported that the combined assets of U.S. mutual funds rose to $3.731 trillion in February from a revised $3.686 trillion in January. Net new cash flow into the whole mutual-fund industry was $41.72 billion in February, down from $53.66 billion in January. The institute notes that January typically has the largest seasonal inflows, reflecting retirement account activity, the investment of year-end bonuses and other factors.

Trucking company

Caliber System

(CBB) - Get Report

announced a restructuring in which it will cut 4,000 jobs at its

Coles Express

and

Spartan Express

units and sell off its

Central Freight Lines

unit. The company is also restating its reported 1996 earnings of 25 cents per share to a loss of $4.18, reflecting charges and writedowns.

Ford

(F) - Get Report

said it would suspend production of

Lincoln

luxury cars at its Wixom, Mich., plant until April 14 because it is reducing sales to daily rental fleets.

Cotelligent Group

(COTL)

said it expects to report fourth-quarter earnings of 15 cents to 17 cents per share, which would miss the

First Call

expectation of 21 cents.

Family-dining company

Morrison Fresh Cooking

(MFC) - Get Report

earned 8 cents per share in the third quarter ended February, compared with a loss of $1.52 a year earlier. First Call was looking for 9 cents.