SEARLE, BOLAR AND LILLY LEAD DRUG STOCKS IN LACKLUSTER WEEK FOR "F-D-C" INDEX

Executive Summary

Searle (up 2-1/8 to 49-1/8), Bolar (up 1-3/4 to 31-7/8) and Lilly (up 1-1/8 to 58) led the Pharmaceutical Component of the "F-D-C" Weekly Index to a fractional advance for the week ended Aug. 31. The Composite was flat at 493.1, while the Dow slipped 1% in the last week of August. Two other drug issues advanced a point: Robins (to 15-1/2) and Schering (to 37-5/8). The Chain group advanced 1.4% on healthy gains by Eckerd (up 2-1/8 to 25) and Revco (up 1-5/8 to 30-1/2). The battle for management control of Revco remained hot during the week (see related story, p. 7), and the company was one of the most actively traded stocks on the Street on Wednesday (volume 884,100 shares). The Diversified issues were lackluster during the week as only Johnson & Johnson (up 1-1/8 to 33-3/4) managed to climb more than a point. The Component dipped .3% as Novo (off 2-3/4 to 37-1/4), which slumped last week, continued to slide. Chart omitted.