7:28AM WSJ suggests dozens of stocks could get hit due to investor withdrawls : The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column suggests dozens of stocks could get hit if investors continue to pull money out of fund companies caught up in the mutual fund scandal. According to the article, assets under management at Putnam Investments fell by a staggering $14 billion last week, with $4 billion coming out of the firm's mutual funds. To help make up for the investor withdrawals, Putnam said it sold stocks in its mutual-fund portfolios totaling $5 billion to $7 billion, or 3% to 4% of its assets. The article notes this particular selling is of concern as it could affect the prices of stocks in Putnam's portfolio and even hurt the market in general. In addition, some stocks are particularly vulnerable given Putnam, Janus, Strong and Alliance Capital collectively owning a hefty 24.6% of the shares outstanding of auto parts maker LEA; almost 21% of ATN, which sells motor-sports merchandise; 20.8% of cable operator CMCSA; and 19.7% of JNPR. Other stocks in which the fund companies own large stakes include: SSCC (18.5%), KRB (17.7%), LAMR (17.4%), SYMC (16.4%), HMA (16.1%), WON (15.9%).
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