San Diego companies made little headway against...

San Diego companies made little headway against last week’s fits and starts in the stock market, according to Irving Katz, director of research at San Diego Securities.

There were exceptions, however.

Mail Boxes Etc. moved up 1 1/2 after it said it signed a master licensing agreement to operate service centers in Montgomery Ward stores. A prototype opens next month at Ward’s Mission Valley outlet.

Great American First Savings Bank rose five-eighths, SDG&E; moved up three-quarters, and Rohr Industries rose 1 1/8 from depressed levels of the previous week.

Others on the upside were Beeba’s Creations, which rose 1 1/2, and Xytronics, which moved up 2 1/8.

Southwest Bank reported its best nine-month earnings ever but gained only one-eighth to 3 3/4, still below book value. Beginning in July, California banks will become targets of acquisition from banks in the 11 Western states at prices considerably above their book values, Katz said.

New lows were reached last week by Cipher Data Products, which touched 10, as disc drive competition continued to depress earnings, and Women’s Health Centers, which hit a new low of 2 3/8, down from its original offering of 6 in May.

Tax law selling on speculative prospects appears to be the motivating factor for the declines, Katz said.

Telequest also hit a new low of 7, down from 10 3/4 just last month, as it announced it expected reduced third-quarter earnings and increased competition in its product line.

IRT was down five-eighths, and Titan dropped seven-eighths, as defense-related stocks came under continued selling.

Price Co. was down 1 as analysts and shareholders await the earnings report for the year just ended Aug. 31. Despite the slower growth expected, the new tax law will certainly have a positive effect on earnings in the coming years because the company has traditionally paid a high tax rate, Katz said. In fiscal 1985, Price Co. paid taxes at a 50% rate.