News stories from Thursday March 1, 1979
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- A major security violation was reported by Pentagon aides. They said that six officials of the Boeing Aerospace Company last year obtained and transmitted top-secret data on plans for developing the MX, a new intercontinental missile. The aides also said that an inquiry had found that the information was sent from Washington to Boeing's headquarters in Seattle in such a way that it was probably intercepted by Soviet agents. [New York Times]
- Criticism of President Carter over his handling of foreign policy is rising among Americans, but most of them oppose the use of American troops to settle international disputes, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll. Only 37 percent approved his overall performance and 30 percent backed his foreign policy. [New York Times]
- Air pollution as a carcinogen was minimized by researchers who said there was no evidence that general atmospheric pollution accounted for the higher rates of cancer in urban areas. An expert said the higher urban rates could be attributed to differences in smoking habits and occupational exposures to carcinogens. [New York Times]
- Two herbicides may cause miscarriages, according to evidence cited by the Environmental Protection Agency, which banned them for most major uses. The ban against 2,4,5-T and Silvex, which took effect at once, follows studies in which women in Alsea, Ore., were found to suffer an "alarming" rate of miscarriages after surrounding forests had been sprayed with 2,4.5-T. About 7 million pounds of it are used each year. [New York Times]
- A new form of hydrogen has been made by scientists who said that it was a transparent, ice-like solid at room temperature. The achievement is a key step toward making metallic hydrogen, which could revolutionize the transmission of electric power. [New York Times]
- Cesar Chavez has failed to achieve his goal in the lettuce strike in the Imperial Valley of lower California. His farm workers' union struck eight of the valley's 28 major growers Jan. 15 at the peak of the harvest. But, with only two weeks of the harvest left, and after losses that growers say exceed $20 million, the union has been unable to break the growers' united front. [New York Times]
- Gasoline prices are rising daily and attendants tell customers that new devices are to be put on pumps to permit posting of $1-or more-a-gallon prices in the (New York) metropolitan region. A spot check in the tri-state area found not only continuing price increases but wide disparities in prices that defy comparison shopping and competition. The trend is abetted by rumors of shortages and approaching rationing. [New York Times]
- Israel rejected American proposals that Prime Minister Begin said would turn an Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty into "a sham document." The Israeli leader made the statement on arriving in Washington for critical talks with President Carter. At the airport, Mr. Begin said to reporters that the negotiations were "in a state of deep crisis." [New York Times]
- China will pay Americans 41 cents on the dollar to settle $196.6 million in claims owed since the Communists confiscated property from American companies and citizens in the 1949 seizure of power, Treasury Secretary Michael Blumenthal announced in Peking. He signed the accord with Chinese officials after he had opened the first American embassy in China in 30 years. [New York Times]
- No substitute for the monitoring base evacuated in Iran will be available for some time, officials in Washington said, adding that the loss will impair American ability to monitor Soviet missile development and compliance with a strategic-arms accord. Officials were said to be studying ways to use other listening posts in Turkey, satellite surveillance and possibly airborne electronic surveillance. Iran's government denied knowing that the American military had still been operating a top-secret electronic listening post near the Soviet border to monitor missile tests.
Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Qum, the holy city where he helped begin the Iranian revolution 14 years ago. There were throngs on the streets, made spotless by peasants on their knees. Aides say that the Moslem leader will continue to direct the country.
[New York Times] - China again appealed to Vietnam to negotiate a peaceful end of their two-week border war. Earlier, a Chinese leader said Peking was approaching its aim of teaching Hanoi that "armed provocations" were useless. [New York Times]
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Stock Market Report
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 815.84 (+7.02, +0.87%)
Arms Index is the ratio of volume per declining issue to volume per advancing issue; a figure below 1.0 is bullish. | |||||||||||||||
| Market Index Trends | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | DJIA | S&P | Volume* |
| February 28, 1979 | 808.82 | 96.28 | 25.09 |
| February 27, 1979 | 807.00 | 96.13 | 31.47 |
| February 26, 1979 | 821.12 | 97.67 | 22.62 |
| February 23, 1979 | 823.28 | 97.78 | 22.75 |
| February 22, 1979 | 828.57 | 98.33 | 26.30 |
| February 21, 1979 | 834.55 | 99.07 | 26.05 |
| February 20, 1979 | 834.55 | 99.42 | 22.01 |
| February 16, 1979 | 827.01 | 98.67 | 21.11 |
| February 15, 1979 | 829.09 | 98.73 | 22.56 |
| February 14, 1979 | 829.78 | 98.87 | 27.22 |