SUPPLEMENT TO THE FIDELITY SELECT PORTFOLIOS(registered trademark)
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DATED APRIL 29, 1997
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SUPPLEMENTS THAT FOUND ON PAGE 15.
EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN MARKETS (STOCK FUNDS). Foreign securities, foreign
currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign
operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent
in U.S. investments. The value of securities denominated in foreign
currencies and of dividends and interest paid with respect to such
securities will fluctuate based on the relative strength of the U.S.
dollar.
Foreign investments involve a risk of local political, economic, or social
instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments,
and may be affected by actions of foreign governments adverse to the
interests of U.S. investors. Such actions may include the possibility of
expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation,
restrictions on U.S. investment or on the ability to repatriate assets or
convert currency into U.S. dollars, or other government intervention. There
is no assurance that FMR will be able to anticipate these potential events
or counter their effects. These risks are magnified for investments in
developing countries, which may have relatively unstable governments,
economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade
a small number of securities.
Economies of particular countries or areas of the world may differ
favorably or unfavorably from the economy of the United States. Foreign
markets may offer less protection to investors than U.S. markets. It is
anticipated that in most cases the best available market for foreign
securities will be on an exchange or in over-the-counter markets located
outside of the United States. Foreign stock markets, while growing in
volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the
United States, and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those
located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than
securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign security trading practices,
including those involving securities settlement where fund assets may be
released prior to receipt of payment, may result in increased risk in the
event of a failed trade or the insolvency of a foreign broker-dealer, and
may involve substantial delays. In addition, the costs of foreign
investing, including withholding taxes, brokerage commissions and custodial
costs, are generally higher than for U.S. investors. In general, there is
less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities
exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States. It may
also be difficult to enforce legal rights in foreign countries. Foreign
issuers are generally not bound by uniform accounting, auditing, and
financial reporting requirements and standards of practice comparable to
those applicable to U.S. issuers.
Some foreign securities impose restrictions on transfer within the United
States or to U.S. persons. Although securities subject to such transfer
restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less liquid than foreign
securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.
American Depositary Receipts (ADR's) as well as other "hybrid" forms of
ADRs including European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary
Receipts (GDRs), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a
foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and
generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere.
The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar
financial institution in the issuer's home country. The depository bank may
not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may
charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and
interest and corporate actions. ADRs are an alternative to directly
purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and
currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks
associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks
include foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks
of the underlying issuer's country.
