January 23, 2000

Cathy Horyn reviews Paris fashion showings; photos (M)

Gretchen Morgenson article discusses impact of Federal Reserve's raising interest rates on investors and consumers; includes six bylined articles that offer advice on dealing with rising rates in areas of stocks, bonds, foreign investments, loans, charitable gifts and impact on consumers vis-a-vis overall economy; graphs (L)

Ecuadoran Vice president Gustavo Noboa Bejarno assumes control of government after dissident military officers and Indian groups overthrow elected president Jamil Mahuad; takes office after armed forces chief Gen Carlos Mendoza dissolves three-man junta that briefly led government; Mendoza says move is aimed at preventing international isolation of Ecuador; threats by US and Latin American countries to impose sanctions if constitutional rule was not preserved noted; Noboa becomes sixth chief of state in four years; says he has support of armed forces and national police; Mahuad condemns coup but acknowledges Noboa's authority; coup is Latin America's first overthrow of sitting civilian president in more than decade; comes amid Ecuador's worst economic crisis in more than 70 years; economy contracted by 7.5 percent in 1999, and inflation was more than 80 percent for second consecutive year--worst economic performance in Latin America; country defaulted on half of its $13 billion foreign debt in September 1999; map; photo (M)

National Conference of State Legislatures reports health care issues accounted for greater proportion of bills in state legislatures nationwide, about 27,000 out of 140,000 bills, than any other issue in 1999; 1,400 bills became law and 1999; 16,000 proposals have carried over and have been introduced for 2000, although fewer state legislatures are in session; conference director Lee Dixon predicts states will continue to enact legislation that addresses concerns of citizens regarding access to care, managed care and cost of care; other officials comment (M)

Insurance companies of America are looking to mergers in their chase for greater market share and, through economies of scale, greater profits; move toward consolidation was given impetus by recent legislation modifying Depression-era regulation of financial industry; insurance companies, with huge stores of cash reserves, are seen as choicest prizes; executives at giant mutual insurers are also looking to throw off their mutual structure by converting from company owned by policyholders to one owned by stockholders and use stock for mergers, takeovers and for rewarding executives; one major insurer about to go public is John Hancock Mutual Insurance Co; David F D'Alessandro, president and chief operations officer of John Hancock, comments; his photo; graphs profiling insurance industry (L)