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 	 [IMAGE]  INVESTOR ALERT:   SEC Eases Buyback Restrictions - Creates Huge Buying Opportunity!    Despite a down market dominated by news of the terrorist attacks, poor earnings estimates and increasing corporate layoffs, a bright spot has emerged that has created a potentially  huge buying opportunity for investors who act immediately.   In an attempt to improve market conditions, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has temporarily relaxed regulatory restrictions governing company stock buybacks. This move has created a fervor on Wall Street, resulting in 150 new buyback announcements over the past week alone, with additional companies announcing stock buybacks every day.    "This announcement gives investors who focus on stock buybacks a serious advantage in the current market," says David Fried, editor of the highly-successful advisory The Buyback Letter . "Investors should be careful, however, since not every company announcing a stock buyback is necessarily a good company to invest in. Investors will  want to separate the good investment candidates from the  bad before purchasing the stock."   The move temporarily lifts a ban on companies repurchasing their stock in the first or last half hour of trading. Additionally, a company which was normally restricted to purchasing only 25% of its average daily trading volume in a given day can now purchase an amount of stock equal to 100% of the average daily trading volume in its stock for the prior month.   "Companies can now buy back their stocks while share prices are at their weakest," Fried says. "As these companies reduce their shares outstanding, the earnings per share increase, making each share more valuable. This is ultimately reflected in share prices."  In the current issue of The Buyback Letter (available FREE for 30 days from INVESTools ), Fried uncovers eight undervalued "Best Buy" stocks that represent your best value right now. Insiders in these eight companies are bullish about their firms, and management are buying back their stock on the open market.   Since March, 1997, Fried's 20-Stock Buyback Index has gained 137.69%, vs. a mere 52.67% for the S&P 500. His 5-stock Buyback Dogs portfolio is up 113% since inception vs. +29% for the S&P and Dow over the same time frame. 19 of Fried's last 22 trades have been profitable, with an average profit of 179%!   Click Here for these Eight Undervalued 'Best Buy' Stocks and your FREE 30-Day Subscription to The Buyback Letter     Why The Average Buyback Value Stock  Outperforms The Market By 45.3%:  The New York Times  reports that a study of all U.S. stocks from 1980-1990 found  that the stock of an average company announcing a repurchase plan will  beat the  market decisively (12.1% for the average company, 45.3% for a value stock) in  the four years following the repurchase announcement.  This makes sense. After all, when a company buys back their own stock, it's  an  enormous vote of confidence  by those who know it best - senior executives. No  one else knows the firm's financial situation, market share, business plans,  competitive advantages and new product strategies better than those with  hands-on, day-to-day experience.  But, these executives aren't talking. They keep their plans, tactics, and  research behind closed doors.  The only indicator of their well-founded optimism  is a stock buyback. It's a powerful indicator that no serious investor should  ignore.   Just how powerful are buyback stocks? In the last 10 years if you had invested  $10,000 in a typical S&P 500 portfolio, you investment would have grown to  $67,917 - an excellent return. But that same $10,000 invested exclusively in  value buyback stocks would have grown to $130,254 - nearly $70,000 more in profits!   The Buyback Letter is available FREE for 30 days from INVESTools.  With your FREE 30-Day Subscription, you'll be on the inside track of the market's safest blue-chip companies that are aggressively buying back their own stock.    Click Here for your FREE 30-Day Subscription to The  Buyback Letter        If the link above doesn't work, go to:   www.investools.com/c/go/BACK/WHISP-backdB   ? 2001 INVESTools.com, Inc. All rights reserved.