SECURITIES

Group Unveils Plan to Protect Investors: A task force formed in November, 1991, at the request of SEC Chairman Richard C. Breeden proposed a broad plan to protect investors against risks linked to slow processing of trades and market upheavals. The eight-member group, which is advising the SEC, wants to speed up the time investors must wait for their trades to settle--to three days from five. It called on Wall Street to take steps so investors can transfer funds to brokerage firms electronically through existing automated banking payment systems, as an alternative to personal checks sent in the mail. The group wants its proposals implemented by July, 1994.