General Investing >> Money Manager Interviews >> October 15, 2001

Fred Astman – First Wilshire Securities Management

FRED ASTMAN is Chairman and a Portfolio Manager at First Wilshire Securities Management, Inc. Mr. Astman served in the Air Force as navigator of both B-24s and B-26s in World War II and the Korean War. He earned a BA from the University of Connecticut and has been investing in the small cap sector since 1962. SCOTT HOOD serves as President of First Wilshire Securities Management, Inc., and co-manages the portfolios. He has over 15 years of experience in the securities industry and has worked as an Analyst and Portfolio Manager at First Wilshire for 12 years. Mr. Hood also worked as a Supervisory Analyst with Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong and with a merchant/investment banking firm in New York City. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from New York University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Institute. Profile
TWST: How would you assess the overall market today? Where would you say

it stands at the present time?

Mr. Astman: We've just experienced the biggest drop in 60 years in the

market during the