Short Takes: Fund Investors Unfazed By Market's Volatility

U.S. mutual fund investors are standing firm - at least so far - in a volatile financial market.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 144.6, or 2.25%, to a low of 6292.50 Friday before rebounding. For the day, the benchmark stock average closed 55.16 lower at 6381.94.

Individual investors didn't react in any meaningful way to the market turbulence, fund companies said.

T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. said telephone inquiries from customers were at about average levels and Vanguard Group said call volumes were lower than normal.

Fidelity Investments reported "very slight" redemption activity from its equities funds and T. Rowe Price said an "above average" number of investors shifted a portion of their assets to low-risk money funds from stock funds.

"Overall, it was just another day in the life for mutual fund investors," said Gavin Quill, Scudder's marketing vice president. "It was a nonevent in terms of investor reaction."

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