Jones Apparel to Be Added to S&P; 500

Jones Apparel Group Inc., a maker of women’s career clothing, is replacing Homestake Mining Co. in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index at the close of trading on Friday, S&P; said. Homestake (HM) is being acquired by Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX), which is already in the S&P; 500.

The purchase, which still needs shareholder approval, is expected to close that day, S&P; said.

Timberland Co.’s Class A shares will replace Jones Apparel in the S&P; MidCap 400 Index, and Netegrity (NETE) Inc. will replace Timberland (TBL) in the S&P; SmallCap 600 Index, S&P; said.

Jones Apparel (JNY) shares rose to $34.65 in after-hours trading. They closed at $32.90, down 39 cents, in regular trading.