Disenchantment with the stock market in general...

Disenchantment with the stock market in general and retail-oriented stocks in particular caused heavy institutional selling in Price Co. as it dropped 7 1/2 points to close the week at 39, according to Irving Katz, director of research for San Diego Securities.

The firm, whose stock has ranged between 52 1/2 and 32 1/2 this year, is expected to report its annual earnings today. The selling in this leading wholesale club discounter “seems to be overdone,” according to Katz.

Trident Group was down nine-thirty-seconds to 1 in spite of--or because of--announcing a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, Katz said. The company also was cleared for listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

On the other hand, Intermark, Trident’s controlling shareholder, gained one-half to 13.

Burnham Pacific Properties was up one-quarter to 19 1/8 as it reported gains in revenue and increased cash flow. It also announced that 100% of its dividends paid for the next several quarters will be tax-sheltered, Katz said.

Linear Corp. gained three-eighths to 11 5/8 on the announcement that Interactive Technologies, currently holding 39.62% of Linear’s stock, will seek a cash merger to acquire 100% of the remaining stock. No price has been set yet, Katz said.

Energy Factors succeeded in obtaining 88.9% of its outstanding $80.5 million of 8% convertible debentures through a tender offer at 75% of face value. The stock dropped one-eighth to 8 3/8.

Rohr Industries, which rose 1 7/8 last week, gave it all back this week, as it sold $100 million of 7% convertible debentures, convertible into common stock at $43 a share.

Molecular Biosystems, which pushed through to a new high of 15 5/8 on the announcement that Robert Brightfelt, a Du Pont manager, would join the company’s board of directors.

The savings and loans fell with other interest-sensitive stocks with Home Federal Savings & Loan down one point, Imperial Corp. of America down 1, and Great American First Savings Bank down five-eighths.