University Times

You want to play the stock market, but you don't have a lot of ready cash and don't want to deal with a broker? You might consider investing some time at the next meeting of Pitt's Stock of the Month Club, Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m. in 527 William Pitt Union. The club, which is open to staff and faculty, started its ninth investment portfolio in January. For $10 per month, a member can help to determine which stocks should be bought and sold, and when.

The club, founded in 1960, is run by Pitt employees with no outside investment advice, said club president Peter Irvine, the University's director of Planned Giving. Investment decisions are made by democratic vote, he said.

One of the club's primary purposes is educational, but members also profit financially. For example, Portfolio A, the club's first portfolio, has increased in value from $13,244 in 1960 to $56,729 today. Portfolio H, the most recent one, increased from $23,768 in 1990 to $26,160 today.

— Bruce Steele