Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 20

Business QUESTIONS OR TIPS? Call Linda Caricaburu 791-1462 or (800) 438-6600 6S Tuesday, January 5, 1999 Great Falls Tribune Manufacturing activity hits lowest level since May 1991 Software executive says Windows system is an 'essential service' shopping season on top of continued troubles abroad, said David Resler, chief economist at Nomura Securities International Inc. I "It's got to be a matter of concern for the overall economy," Resler said. But the report offered no new insights to investors and was not factor in Wall Street's see-saw session. The Dow industrials jumped! as much as 168.64 points before re-; treating on profit-taking after Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank Presi-; dent Jack Guynn echoed economists' sentiment that the economy cannot keep growing at its current pace. After falling 58.96 points, the Dow closed at 9,184.27, up just 2.84.

Broader stock indexes were mixed, but the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index posted an-; other new high in active Exports continued to decline' in December, although at a slower pace, as purchasing executives expressed concern about the steel industry in particular, the report said. Prices dropped at a faster rate, a By TED BRIDIS Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON A software executive defended his suggestion to a federal judge that Microsoft Corp. be prevented from using its dominant Windows operating system to favor its own software products. The chief executive officer for Intuit which makes the popular Quicken personal finance software, testified Monday as the Microsoft antitrust trial resumed after a lengthy holiday break. He is the next-to-last witness for the government.

The executive, William Harris, complained that Microsoft holds unparalleled influence in the high-tech industry because Windows, which functions as the central nervous system for most computers, is an "essential service" for which "there is no effective substitute." Among its allegations, the government charges that Microsoft illegally included its own Internet browsing software within Windows as part of a campaign to "crush" rival Netscape Communications which makes competing browser software that isn't shipped with Windows. "I believe there is a role for someone, perhaps the court, to make a distinction between the operating system and applications," Harris said. In 47 pages of written testimony, Harris earlier told the judge that Intuit genuinely feared Microsoft's plans in the mid-1990s to include finance software within Windows. Microsoft eventually abandoned the idea, called WinATM. Like many of the executives who have testified for the govern ment during the trial, Harris has a complicated relationship with Microsoft, as both customer and competitor.

Intuit's Quicken software, used by 10 million customers, can't run without Windows, and Intuit has made deals with Microsoft to promote its finance software and distributes a version of Microsoft's Internet browser as part of Quicken. But Intuit also competes directly with Microsoft's finance program, called Money. "We always need to keep in the back of our mind that we are competitive with them," Harris said. Harris also acknowledged under questioning that Intuit's chairman, William V. Campbell, is on the board of Apple Computer Inc.

and Netscape, two of Microsoft's biggest rivals. Ex-Great Falls man named hotels' VP Mike Donohue, a former Great Falls resident and University of Great Falls graduate, has been promoted to vice president of Atlanta-based AmeriSuites Hotels. Donohue, regional vice president of operations for the southeast regional office, will oversee 21 hotels. He is the son of Ida and Allen Donohue of Great Falls, and is married to the former Debra Mims. In brief Bill Brewer and Lewis Zanto of Western States Insurance recently completed a three-day school in Hunt Valley, by Preferred Dealer Protection.

PDF writes property, casualty and workers compensation for new auto dealers. Heidi Carter has been appointed a certified gemologist by the American Gem Society. Carter works as a jeweler, gemologist and appraiser at 410 Central Suite 501. Computer Products University has certified Fonda Henson Workman of Software Plus, 319 1st Ave. as a retail professional in graphics software and video products.

NEW YORK (AP) Manufacturing activity dropped in December to its lowest level in nearly eight years, as weakening domestic demand added to the global turmoil that has hindered American exports. But investors were unfazed by Monday's assessment by the National Association of Purchasing Management, which supported expectations that the U.S. economy's long expansion will slow in 1999. The trade group reported its monthly index of business activity fell to 45.1 percent in December its lowest level since May 1991. The results surprised economists, who had predicted the index would rise slightly from its November level of 46.8 percent.

December marked the seventh consecutive month in which the index was below 50 percent, a sign of contraction in the industrial sector. "Most manufacturers trade in a global marketplace, and for a lot of the rest of the world recession is still the rule," said Robert Barbera, chief economist at Hoenig Co. The private group's report is compiled from a survey of corporate purchasing executives nationwide. It is widely followed because it is usually the first indicator of how the economy performed in the previous month. The report showed American manufacturers were hurt by slowing domestic demand already seen in the largely disappointing Christmas (0 ASK A PRO Computers Is there an easy way to view pictures on my computer when I'm sorting and renaming them? One of the cool things about IE 4.0 and Win98 is that when you view open folders as Web pages (My ComputerViewAs Web Page), you can see image thumbnails on the left side of the window when you hover the mnitco nntnknr Auar thfl filar UnfnrtitnntAlM (ama IPPHc Ann't cUnui nn iiiuuj pwmiQi uvei lire ui.

uiiiui iwiruiciy, junto jt luj uuii i jiiutt up, i because JPEGs come in two types RGB and CMYK and Win98 can read Mlchael Workman only RGB. The fix is to use your favorite graphics utility to convert your CMYK JPEGs to RGB. www.imt.netrelampago SOFTWARE PLUS, INC. 319 1st Ave North Great Falls, MT 59401 (406) 761-0083 1-800-735-7083 Fax 406-761-0084 Mitsubishi Motors shows off its SSU concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Monday, Jan. 4, 1999.

The "super sport utility" combines attributes of an exotic sports car with the room of a sport utility vehicle. Sport utility vehicles making big splash Questions should be addressed and sent to the above mentioned professionals. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. Paid trend that plagued the manufacturing sector through all of 1998. INTERNET 56K Modems $15 Month Sign up at Superior Business Equip.

1001 Central Ave. 727-7462 Internet Montana Software SOFA'S CHAIRS ATTOMANS 25-50 OFF CAPEL AREA RUGS 40 OFF CRYSTAL BRASS ACCESSORIES 50 OFF CHRISTMAS ACCESSORIES 40 OFF Smell 12 hollcmclri WOODCRAFT FINE FURNITURE CABINETS 900 Sixth Street S.W. 727-8795 for mountain bikes and its hatchback compartments for first aid kits or tools. Nissan expects the Xterra to go into production in March at its Smyrna, plant and reach showrooms in May. Ford's Explorer Sport Trac, based on an Explorer chassis and mated to a bed adapted from the Ranger pickup truck.

Ford's targeted consumers: Those considering SUVs, sports coupes or compact pickup trucks. Ford expects the Sport Trac to hit showrooms early next year but did not immediately specify the vehicle's price. Ford last week introduced the Lincoln Blackwood, another SUV-pickup hybrid, at the Los Angeles auto show. It mates a short, aluminum-lined pickup bed to the front end and cab of the company's high-profit Lincoln Navigator. A produc IRS offering more taxpayer help as filing season begins By CURT ANDERSON AP Tax Writer WASHINGTON A new round-the-clock telephone help line and Saturday office hours are among new tax filing services Clinton administration officials announced Monday to mark the beginning of the annual tax-filing season.

"We hope that by doing our job better, people will understand that the IRS is not an enemy of the taxpayers at all," Charles Rossotti, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, told reporters. "Our job is to be an agent to help the taxpayer meet the obligations." The tax filing season that ends April 15 marks the first test of the 1998 reform law intended in part to transform the much-maligned IRS into a friendlier, more service-oriented agency. Some of these changes will take years to complete. But Rossotti and Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin said some things will be different right away such as fewer busy signals and less time spent on hold for people seeking information by phone. Beginning Monday, the IRS will operate its taxpayer help lines, (800) 829-1040, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In the past, those lines were staffed 16 hours a day, six days a week. "During this year's filing season, we'll never close," Rossotti said. In addition, IRS offices in 250 locations will be open on 13 Saturdays between Jan. 16 and April 10. Last year, such "help sessions" were held only on the last few Saturdays at a few locations before the April 15 tax filing deadline for 1998 taxes.

Taxpayers should call IRS to find the office nearest them that will be open on Saturdays. For people with computer access to the Internet, the IRS site on the World Wide Web (www.irs.ustreas.gov) features tax forms, changes in tax law, publications, tax tables, answers to frequently asked questions and links to other tax-related sites. Rossotti also said IRS has finished testing some 70,000 computer programs to ensure they are ready for 2000, when computer systems may be disrupted by a date-related glitch. This tax filing season, he said, "is a test run" for those repairs and taxpayers should be on the lookout for errors such as wrong tax notices or failure to promptly receive a due refund. "We will be prepared, if there are problems, to respond to them very quickly," Rossotti said.

ALL SALES FINAL "Bags of Bird Seed for your Wedding" EASTER SEAL AP photo tion version could reach showrooms within the next two years. "I think it's a new segment," Mays said. "I don't think it's a niche." BMWs X5, a luxury car-like SUV dubbed by the German automaker as a "sport activity vehicle." It's BMWs first sport utility vehicle. Looking further down the road, Mitsubishi unveiled its "Mad Max," a futuristic, boxy concept machine the Japanese automaker describes as a "super sports utility." On Tuesday, Nissan will unveil what it calls the "SUT," or sport utility truck. Ford's Lincoln-Mercury division will debut a crossover SUV hybrid off a Contour platform, and Hyundai will introduce a car-based SUV.

(s i GOODWILL LEXINGTON BOB TIMBERLAKE BEDROOM DINING ROOM 20 OFF MIRRORS PRINTS 33 OFF MILL CREEK STUDIO PORCELAINS 33 OFF LAMPS 20-50 OFF SALE JANUARY 3-15 or op and 4400 Central Avenue 761-3680 Assembly Work Bulk Mailing Janitorial Promo Buttons DETROIT (AP) It's getting tougher to tell cars from trucks at the North American International Auto Show. Manufacturers this year are debuting sport utility vehicles with pickup-truck beds while other vehicles are part car, part SUV, part van. "The boundaries are becoming blurred," said Mays, Ford Motor design chief. "It's all a redefinition of what we know as a car." Looking to carve out new niches in an SUV segment that has grown larger than most in the industry ever expected, automakers Monday pulled the wraps off what they hope will be the latest showroom hits: Nissan Motor Xterra, touted by the Japanese automaker as a midsize SUV meant to attract active, young outdoor enthusiasts ready to use the vehicle's cargo bay Interest rates fall at securities auction WASHINGTON (AP) Interest rates on short-term Treasury securities fell in Monday's auction to the lowest level in a month. The Treasury Department sold $7.50 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 4.380 percent, down from 4.520 percent last week.

An additional $7.51 billion was sold in six-month bills at a rate of 4.420 percent, down from 4.525 percent. The three-month rate was the lowest since Dec. 7, when the bills sold for 4.320 percent. The six-month rate was the lowest since Dec. 14, when the rate was 4.390.

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