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FUND PROFILE
May 1, 1999
T. Rowe Price Financial Services Fund
A stock fund seeking long-term capital appreciation and modest current income.
This profile summarizes key information about the fund that is included in the
fund's prospectus. The fund's prospectus includes additional information about
the fund, including a more detailed description of the risks associated with
investing in the fund that you may want to consider before you invest. You may
obtain the prospectus and other information about the fund at no cost by
calling 1-800-XXX-XXXX, or by visiting our Web site at www.troweprice.com.
1. What is the fund's objective?
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital and a modest level of income.
2. What is the fund's principal investment strategy?
The fund will invest at least 65% of assets in the common stocks of companies
in the financial services industry. In addition, the fund may invest in
companies deriving substantial revenues (at least 50%) from conducting
business with the industry, such as providers of financial software.
For purposes of selecting investments, we define financial services broadly
and include (but are not limited to) the following:
. regional and money center banks;
. insurance companies;
. home, auto, and other specialty finance companies;
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. securities brokerage firms;
. investment management firms;
. publicly traded, government-sponsored financial intermediaries;
. thrift and savings banks;
. financial conglomerates; and
. foreign financial services companies.
Stock selection is based on fundamental, "bottom up" analysis that seeks to
identify companies with good appreciation prospects. The fund will have no
restrictions on the market capitalization (stock price multiplied by shares
outstanding) of its holdings. We may use both growth and value approaches in
selecting investments. In the growth area, we will try to identify companies
with capable management, attractive business niches, sound financial and
accounting practices, and a demonstrated ability to increase revenues,
earnings, and cash flow consistently. In the value area, the manager will
seek companies whose current stock prices appear undervalued in terms of
earnings, projected cash flow, or asset value per share, that have growth
potential temporarily unrecognized by the market, or that may be temporarily
out of favor.
While most of the fund's assets will be invested in U.S. common stocks, we
may also invest in other securities, including foreign securities, futures,
and options, in keeping with the fund's objective.
The fund may sell securities for a variety of reasons, such as to secure
gains, limit losses, or redeploy assets into more promising opportunities.
Further information about the fund's investments, including a review of
market conditions and fund strategies and their impact on performance, is
available in the annual and semiannual shareholder reports. To obtain free
copies of any of these documents, call 1-800-XXX-XXXX.
3. What are the main risks of investing in the fund?
As with all stock funds, this fund's share price can fall because of weakness
in the broad market, a particular industry, or specific holdings. The market
as a whole can decline for many reasons, including adverse political or
economic developments here or abroad, changes in investor psychology, or
heavy institutional selling. The prospects for an industry or company may
deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including disappointing earnings
or changes in the competitive environment. In addition, our assessment of
companies held in the fund may prove incorrect, resulting in losses or poor
performance by those holdings, even in a rising market.
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Since the fund will be concentrated in the financial services industry, it
will be less diversified than stock funds investing in a broader range of
industries and, therefore, could experience significant volatility.
Generally, a fund limited to one area of economic activity represents greater
potential risk than a more diversified fund, although the dividends paid by
financial services companies moderate this risk to some extent. Financial
services companies may be hurt when interest rates rise sharply, although not
all participants are affected equally. The stocks may also be vulnerable to
rapidly rising inflation. In addition, government deregulation of the
industry may stall, which could limit the profit potential of industry
participants.
Many companies in this field can possess growth characteristics, but the
industry is not generally perceived to be dynamic or aggressive, which could
dampen fund performance compared with more aggressive funds.
The fund's potential investments in growth stocks could result in greater
volatility because of the generally higher valuations of these stocks. The
fund's potential use of the value approach carries the risks that the market
will not recognize a security's intrinsic value for a long time, or that a
stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced.
To the extent that the fund invests in foreign securities, it is also subject
to the risk that some holdings may lose value because of declining foreign
currencies or adverse political or economic events overseas. To the extent
the fund uses futures and options, it is exposed to additional volatility and
potential losses.
As with any mutual fund, there can be no guarantee the fund will achieve its
objective.
. The fund's share price may decline, so when you sell your shares, you may
lose money. An investment in the fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not
insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any
other government agency.
4. How can I tell if the fund is appropriate for me?
Consider your investment goals, your time horizon for achieving them, and
your tolerance for risk. If you can accept the risks of investing in a
single-industry fund in an effort to achieve significant capital
appreciation, and you seek to participate directly in the growth prospects of
the financial services sector, the fund could be an appropriate part of your
overall investment strategy. This fund should not represent your complete
investment program or be used for short-term trading purposes.
The fund can be used in both regular and tax-deferred accounts, such as IRAs.
. Equity investors should have a long-term investment horizon and be willing
to wait out bear markets.
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5. How has the fund performed in the past?
The bar chart and the average annual total return table indicate risk by
illustrating how much returns can differ from one year to the next. The
fund's past performance is no guarantee of its future returns.
<TABLE>
INSERT FSF BAR CHART HERE
<CAPTION>
Calendar Year Total Returns
--------------------------------
<S> <C>
1997 41.44%
1998 11.55
--------------------------------
</TABLE>
The fund can also experience short-term performance swings. The best calendar
quarter return during the years depicted in the chart was 21.04% in the
fourth quarter of 1998, and the worst was -20.07% in the third quarter of
1998.
<TABLE>
Average Annual Total Returns
<CAPTION>
Periods ended December 31, 1998
Since inception
1 year (9/30/96)
<S> <C> <C> <S>
Financial Services Fund 11.55% 29.48%
-------------------------------------
S&P 500 Stock Index 28.57 31.66
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</TABLE>
These figures include changes in principal value, reinvested dividends, and
capital gain distributions, if any.
6. What fees or expenses will I pay?
The fund is 100% no load. There are no fees or charges to buy or sell fund
shares, reinvest dividends, or exchange into other T. Rowe Price funds. There
are no 12b-1 fees.
<TABLE>
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
<CAPTION>
Annual fund operating expenses
(expenses that are deducted from fund assets)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <S>
0.67%
Management fee /a/
Other expenses 0.50%
Total annual fund 1.17%
operating expenses /a/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
/a/
To limit the fund's expenses during its initial period of operations, T. Rowe
Price agreed to waive its fees and bear any expenses through December 31,
1998, which would cause the fund's ratio of expenses to average net assets to
exceed 1.25%. Fees waived or expenses paid or assumed under this agreement
are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the fund whenever the fund's
expense ratio is below 1.25%; however, no reimbursement will be made after
December 31, 2000, or if it would result in the expense ratio exceeding
1.25%. Any amounts reimbursed will have the effect of increasing fees
otherwise paid by the fund. As a result of reimbursements by the fund to T.
Rowe Price under these agreements, the management fee and total annual fund
operating expenses have been restated. In the absence of this restatement,
these fees would have been 0.69% and 1.19%, respectively.
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Example. The following table gives you a rough idea of how expense ratios
may translate into dollars and helps you to compare the cost of investing in
this fund with that of other funds. Although your actual costs may be higher
or lower, the table shows how much you would pay if operating expenses remain
the same, you invest $10,000, you earn a 5% annual return, and you hold the
investment for the following periods:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
$121 $378 $654 $1,443
----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
7. Who manages the fund?
The fund is managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe Price).
Founded in 1937, T. Rowe Price and its affiliates manage investments for
individual and institutional accounts. The company offers a comprehensive
array of stock, bond, and money market funds directly to the investing
public.
Larry J. Puglia manages the fund day-to-day and has been chairman of its
Investment Advisory Committee since October 1997. He joined T. Rowe Price in
1990 and has been managing investments since 1993.
The following questions and answers about buying and selling shares and
services do not apply to employer-sponsored retirement plans. If you are a
participant in one of these plans, please call your plan's toll-free number
for additional information.
8. How can I purchase shares?
Fill out and return a New Account Form in the postpaid envelope, along with
your check. The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRAs and gifts
or transfers to minors) or $50 if investing through Automatic Asset Builder.
The minimum subsequent investment is $100 ($50 for IRAs, gifts or transfers
to minors, or Automatic Asset Builder). You can also open an account by bank
wire, by exchanging from another T. Rowe Price fund, or by transferring
assets from another financial institution.
9. How can I sell shares?
You may redeem or sell any portion of your regular or IRA account on any
business day. Simply write to us or call. You can also access your account at
any time via Tele*Access /(R)/ or our Web site. We offer free exchange among
our entire family of domestic and international funds. Restrictions may apply
in special circumstances, and some redemption requests need a signature
guarantee. A $5 fee is charged for wire redemptions under $5,000.
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10. When will I receive income and capital gain distributions?
The fund distributes income annually and net capital gains, if any, at
year-end. For regular accounts, income and short-term gains are taxable at
ordinary income rates, and long-term gains are taxable at the capital gains
rate. Distributions are reinvested automatically in additional shares unless
you choose another option, such as receiving a check. Distributions paid to
IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are automatically reinvested.
11. What services are available?
A wide range, including but not limited to:
. retirement plans for individuals and large and small businesses;
. automated information and transaction services by telephone or computer;
. electronic transfers between fund and bank accounts;
. automatic investing and automatic exchange;
. brokerage services; and
. asset manager accounts.
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To Open a Mutual Fund, Asset Manager, or Brokerage Account
Investor Services
1-800-XXX-XXXX
For Information on Existing Accounts
Shareholder Services
1-800-225-5132
For Yields and Prices and Account Transactions
Tele*Access/(R)/
1-800-638-2587 24 hours, 7 days
For Fund Information and Account Transactions on the Internet
www.troweprice.com
Investor Centers
101 East Lombard St. Baltimore, MD 21202
T. Rowe Price Financial Center 10090 Red Run Blvd. Owings Mills, MD 21117
Farragut Square 900 17th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006
ARCO Tower 31st Floor 515 South Flower St. Los Angeles, CA 90071
4200 West Cypress St. 10th Floor Tampa, FL 33607
Headquarters
100 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202
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NEW ACCOUNT FORM (LOGO)
You may purchase shares of a T. Rowe Price fund after
reviewing the information in the profile or after requesting
and reviewing the fund's prospectus (and other information).
Please note: an IRA will not be established using this form.
If you want to open an IRA, call 1-800-638-5660 to request
an IRA New Account Form.
Mail this form to: T. Rowe Price
P.O. Box 17300, Baltimore, MD 21298-9353
For help with this form, call toll free 1-800-638-5660.
Please do not remove the mailing label from this form.
1 PROVIDE YOUR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
Owner's or Minor's Social Security or Tax ID Number
(Use Minor's Social Security Number for Custodial Account)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Joint Owner's or Custodian's Social Security or Tax ID Number
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2 DESIGNATE TYPE OF ACCOUNT AND OWNER NAME(S)
Please print in CAPITAL LETTERS. Choose one:
__ Individual or Joint Account.*
*Joint tenancy with right of survivorship unless you instruct otherwise.
Owner's Name (First, Middle Initial, Last)
________________________________
Title: Mr. Ms. Mrs. Dr.
Joint Owner's Name (First, Middle Initial, Last)
________________________________
Title: Mr. Ms. Mrs. Dr.
__ Custodial Account.
Uniform Gift or Transfer to Minors Act (UGMA or UTMA)
Custodian's Name (First, Middle Initial, Last)
________________________________
Minor's Name (First, Middle Initial, Last)
________________________________
State of Residence (Minor's or Custodian's)
________________________________
__ Trust, Corporation, Business, or Other Entity Account.*
*Please attach the first and last pages of the trust agreement or a copy
of
the corporate resolution.
Name of Trust, Corporation, or Other Entity
_________________________________________________________
Trustee Names or Type of Entity
________________________________________________________
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Name of Trust Beneficiary (Optional) Date of Trust Agreement
________________ __-__-__
month day year
__ Check this box if your organization is incorporated or tax-exempt under
Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, a qualified retirement plan
under Section 401(a), or a custodial account under Section 403(b)(7),
and
you DO NOT want us to file information returns on your behalf.
3 PROVIDE YOUR ADDRESS
Street Address or P.O. Box
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
City State
____________________ __
ZIP Code
_ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _
4 PROVIDE OTHER ACCOUNT DATA
Daytime Phone Ext.
_ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Evening Phone Ext.
_ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Date of Birth (Owner/Minor)
Date of Birth (Joint Owner/Custodian)
_ _ - _ _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _ - _ _
month day year month day year
__ U.S. Citizen __ Resident Alien
__ Nonresident Alien. My permanent foreign address for tax purposes is:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Owner's Occupation / Employer Name (Optional)
_____________________________________
Employer Address (Optional)
__________________________________________________________________________
5 SELECT YOUR FUND(S)
Please print the fund name(s) exactly as listed inside the Investment Kit you
received with this form. Fill in the amount of your investment for each fund.
The minimum initial investment is $2,500 per fund ($1,000 for UGMAs/UTMAs)
but is waived if you use Automatic Asset Builder (see Sections 6 and 7E).
Fund Name Amount
__________________________________ $________
Fund Name Amount
__________________________________ $________
Fund Name Amount
__________________________________ $________
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Fund Name Amount
__________________________________ $________
Total Investment$________
6 CHOOSE YOUR INVESTMENT METHOD
A. __ By check.
Make payable to T. Rowe Price Funds. (Otherwise it may be returned.)
B. __ By Automatic Asset Builder.
See Section 7E for instructions.
C. __ By wire.
Please call 1-800-225-5132 for the following information and wiring
instructions:
Account Number
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _
Date of Wire
_ _ - _ _ - _ _
month day year
(over, please)
7 SELECT YOUR ACCOUNT SERVICE OPTIONS
A. TO RECEIVE YOUR DISTRIBUTIONS
Your dividends and capital gains will be reinvested unless you indicate
------
otherwise.
__ Pay dividends and capital gains to me by check.
__ Transfer dividends and capital gains to my bank account.
(Please complete Section 7C if you elect this option.)
__ Pay dividends to me by check and reinvest capital gains.
B. TO EXCHANGE AND REDEEM FUND SHARES
You can use the telephone or your personal computer to check your account
balance, redeem shares, or make exchanges among any identically registered
accounts unless you check the boxes below.
------
__ I do NOT want telephone/computer exchange.
__ I do NOT want telephone/computer redemption.
C. TO MAKE TRANSFERS BETWEEN YOUR BANK AND T. ROWE PRICE
This service makes purchasing or redeeming fund shares even more convenient.
Simply call a T. Rowe Price representative or Tele*Access (R) and your
transaction
will be processed by electronically moving money between your bank
account and your mutual fund accounts.
Transfers occur only when you initiate them ($100 minimum) and are made
through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network or by wire.* This service
becomes available approximately 20 days after your application is
processed. Since you initiate transfers by phone or computer, be sure that
you did not decline the phone/computer redemption service above.
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__ Check this box to set up this service. YOU MUST ALSO ATTACH A BLANK,
VOIDED CHECK (other than your investment check) from your bank
account to this form.
Any co-owner of your bank account who is not a co-owner of
---
your mutual fund account must sign below.
X___________________________________________
Bank Account Co-owner's Signature
*There is a $5 fee for wire redemptions under $5,000 but no fee for ACH
transactions.
ATTACH VOIDED CHECK HERE
D. TO SET UP CHECKWRITING
You can write checks for $500 or more on all T. Rowe Price money market and
bond fund accounts (except the High Yield and Emerging Markets Bond funds).
Those authorized to write checks should read the checking agreement and sign
below.
By signing this form, I agree to all of State Street Bank's checking account
rules, and to any conditions and limitations on redeeming checks from the
T. Rowe Price Funds. I also agree that:
(1) This form applies to any other identically registered T. Rowe Price
fund checking account I establish later;
(2) If I am subject to IRS backup withholding, I may write checks only on
money fund accounts;
(3) State Street Bank and the Fund reserve the right to change, revoke, or
close any checking account;
(4) The signatures are authentic, and, for organizations, I have submitted
an original or certified resolution authorizing the individuals with legal
capacity to sign and act on behalf of the organization.
(Do not detach this section from the rest of the form.)
_____________________________________________________
Fund Name Fund Name
_____________________________________________________
Print Name of Owner, Custodian, or Trustee
X___________________________________________________
Signature Date
_____________________________________________________
Print Name of Joint Owner, Co-trustee, Corporate Officer, etc.
X___________________________________________________
Signature Date
How many signatures do you require on checks?
__ Only one owner __ All owners
G00-008 6/30/98
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E. TO SET UP AUTOMATIC ASSET BUILDER
This service allows you to automatically invest in your fund account through
your
bank account and/or payroll deduction each month (minimum $50 per fund).
___ Check this box to invest from your bank account.
Be sure to complete Section 7C and fill in the information below.
Fund Name
__________________________________________________________________________
Amount Day of Month You Would Like to Invest
__________________________________ ____
Fund Name
__________________________________________________________________________
Amount Day of Month You Would Like to Invest
_____________________ ___
Fund Name
__________________________________________________________________________
Amount Day of Month You Would Like to Invest
_____________________ ___
Fund Name
__________________________________________________________________________
Amount Day of Month You Would Like to Invest
_____________________ ___
____ Check this box to invest through payroll deduction.
T. Rowe Price will mail you instructions for this service.
8 SIGN YOUR NEW ACCOUNT FORM
By signing this form, I certify that:
- - I agree to be bound by the terms of the prospectus for each fund in which
I am investing. If I am purchasing shares after reviewing a fund profile, I
understand that I will receive the prospectus after I purchase shares in the
fund. I have the authority and legal capacity to purchase mutual fund shares,
am of legal age in my state, and believe each investment is suitable for me.
- - I authorize T. Rowe Price, the Funds, their affiliates and agents to act on
any
instructions believed to be genuine for any service authorized on this form,
including telephone/computer services. The Funds use reasonable procedures
(including shareholder identity verification) to confirm that instructions
given by telephone/computer are genuine, and the Funds are not liable for
acting on these instructions. (If these procedures are not followed, it is the
opinion of certain regulatory agencies that the Funds may be liable for any
loss that may result from acting on instructions given.) I understand that
anyone who can properly identify my account(s) can make phone/computer
transactions on my behalf.
- - The Funds can redeem shares from my account(s) to reimburse a fund for
any loss due to nonpayment or other indebtedness.
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- - By selecting the electronic transfer service in Section 7C, I hereby authorize
T. Rowe Price to initiate credit and debit entries to my (our) account at the
Financial Institution indicated and for the Financial Institution to credit or
debit the same to such account through the Automated Clearing House
(ACH) system, subject to the rules of the Financial Institution, ACH, and the
Fund. T. Rowe Price may correct any transaction error with a debit or credit
to my Financial Institution account and/or Fund account. THIS AUTHORIZATION,
including any credit or debit entries initiated thereunder, is in full
force and effect until I notify T. Rowe Price of its revocation by telephone
or in writing and T. Rowe Price has had sufficient time to act on it.
- - Under penalties of perjury, the tax identification number(s) shown on
this form is correct. If I fail to give the correct number or fail to sign this
form, T. Rowe Price may reject, restrict, or redeem my investment. I may
also be subject to IRS backup withholding (currently 31%) on all
distributions and redemptions, and I may be subject to a $50 IRS penalty.
- - Under penalties of perjury, I am NOT subject to IRS backup withholding
because 1) I have not been notified, or 2) notification has been revoked
(cross out "NOT" if you are currently subject to withholding), or 3) I have
indicated in Section 4 that I am a nonresident alien and certify that for
dividends I am not a U.S. citizen or resident (or I am filing for a foreign
corporation, partnership, estate, or trust).
- - For clarification on any of these certification issues, please contact us for
assistance.
- - The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document
other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding.
PLEASE SIGN HERE
X__________________________________________________
Signature of Owner, Custodian, or Trustee Date
X__________________________________________________
Signature of Joint Owner, Co-trustee, Corporate Officer, etc. Date
Thank you for your investment. You will receive a confirmation shortly.
8
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