71.   A four- to seven-year duration is considered a normal level for an intermediate bond fund.

72.   A good starter set would include a bond fund like Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond or Lindner Dividend, and a stock fund like T. Rowe Price Equity-Income.

73.   A series of bailouts this year, of money market funds and a Paine Webber bond fund, raise questions about what existing and prospective investors should be told.

74.   A second way is with closed-end bond funds.

75.   A. You are looking at only one side of the behavior of bond funds, which is interest rates.

76.   A. Well, this strikes me as a pretty good time to invest in bond funds, but a terrible time for stock funds.

77.   A. You are correct in noting that I rarely suggest closed-end bond funds for income- oriented investors.

78.   A year later, it began offering a stock market index fund and a bond market index fund.

79.   Ally, meanwhile, has started three stock funds, a bond fund, a money market fund and two funds meant as all-in-one investments.

80.   All but the boldest investors should steer clear of longer-term bond funds, investment pros say.