May 2, 1997

Summary of major news stories in Metro section; photo

Market Place column on Fidelity Investments' appointment of James C Curvey as chief operating officer and chairman of company's operating committee; says appointment puts Curvey in charge of day-to-day business, making him second in command to Fidelity's chairman Edward C Johnson 3d; holds industry analysts say move makes clear that Johnson has grown weary of lingering questions about company's ability to continue dominating mutual fund business (L)

Art world prepares for the important spring auctions of estimated $400 million worth of Impressionist, modern and contemporary art in Manhattan, anticipating buying frenzy by collectors and even serious museum interest; some of the most important works to be auctioned by Christie's come from estates of John Langeloth Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb and Jacques Koerfer; among notable offerings by Sotheby's are works from the personal collection of Henry Moore and the estate of Florence and Richard Weil; auctions listing; photo (M)

Biographical profile of Labor Party leader Tony Blair in view of his election as Prime Minister of Britain; notes that he was born in Edinburgh on May 6, 1953 (M)

Former Immigration Service official John F Lonergan, who was convicted of accepting bribes to falsify documents, is taken into custody for violating terms of house arrest; he is to begin serving 42-month sentence (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)