Vivendi's share price has tumbled over investor worries about Mr. Messier's vision and his leadership.

Still, the company's stock lost 7.3 percent of its value yesterday, reflecting investor worries about slow 1992 sales and rising costs when Compaq introduces several computers in coming months.

But whether such bargain-hunting can overcome last week's investor worries is unclear.

These days, investor worries about possible problems at other companies and distrust of corporate executives have allowed Mr. Freeman to find bargains.

To some analysts, investor worries were apparent in yesterday's reaction to unexpectedly strong earnings from Chrysler.

Fed officials tend to attribute the rising rates more to investor worries about coming inflation.

But he stressed that investor worries extended beyond the next quarter's big number.

If successful, the tax incentives could strengthen the banks and ease some investor worries.

Higher crude oil prices and investor worries of inflation also helped the market along, analysts said.

A proposal to issue $375 million in Philadelphia notes collapsed in September amid investor worries about the city's fiscal condition.