Keystone Beefs Up Its Team Of International Analysts

In response to investors' growing enthusiasm for investing abroad, Keystone Group Inc. has put more manpower behind analyzing international investment opportunities.

The Boston-based investment management and mutual fund company, which previously had just two international analysts, has hired three more.

The hirings come as Keystone's sales of products that invest at least part of their assets outside the United States are booming. Indeed, in the fourth quarter of 1994 the third and fourth best selling funds were global funds and the top selling fund is 20% invested globally, according to a Keystone spokesman. The popularity of these products is the same through both banks and other outlets.

The new players on the Keystone international team are Francis X. Claro, analyst for Latin America equity markets; Sami J. Karam, who covers European equity markets; and Richard A. Wisentaner, who focuses on international fixed income.

The company already had one analyst covering Latin American equity markets and another one covering Asian equity markets. All five analysts carry the title of vice president and report to Gilman Gunn, senior vice president and portfolio manager.

Keystone's international team manages portfolios for the Keystone International Fund, Keystone Fund of the Americas, Keystone Strategic Development Fund, and Keystone America World Bond Fund.

These funds represent about $700 million in international assets, with approximately $300 million invested in Latin America, according to the company. In all, Keystone has $12 billion in assets under management and 34 retail mutual funds.