January 21, 1998

Crisis in overseas financial markets is again felt in US, as J P Morgan & Co, Chase Manhattan Corp and Citicorp say fourth-quarter earnings were hurt by sharp economic downturns in Asia and Latin America; J P Morgan says profit plunged 35.3 percent; Chase Manhattan's earnings rose 5 percent and Citicorp's gained 7.4 percent, but both companies were battered abroad; J P Morgan reports net income of $271 million on revenue of $1.68 billion, compared with $419 million on revenue of $1.8 billion a year ago; for the year, bank earned $1.465 billion on revenue of $7.22 billion, compared with $1.57 billion on revenue of $6.85 billion in 1996; Citicorp had profits of $1.06 billion on revenue of $6 billion, compared with $987 million on revenue of $5.74 billion in year-earlier quarter; Citicorp earned $3.6 billion on revenue of $23.3 billion, compared with profits of $3.8 billion on revenue of $21.5 billion in 1996; Chase reports profits of $874 million on revenue of $4.29 billion, compared with $836 million on revenue of $4.1 billion in last year's quarter; Chase earned $3.53 billion on revenue of $17.67 billion, compared with profits of $2.24 billion on revenue of $16.43 billion in 1996; chart (L)

William Grimes reports on new generation of flavored vodkas; recipes (M)

Dave Anderson Sports of The Times column discusses Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Gilbert Brown and his preparing for Super Bowl against Denver Broncos; photo (M)

The Rev. Jerry Falwell said he and Southern Baptist leaders would urge evangelical churches to oppose the transfer of land to Palestinians. Article, page A6.

Television army has invaded Havana on eve of Pope John Paul II's visit to Cuba, speeding up city's normally slow-paced routine and probing without interference into nearly every corner of normally restrictive society; influx yields financial windfall for Government, particularly ministries and state companies providing services at greatly inflated prices and imposing creative new charges on equipment and supplies; photo (M)