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.
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SUPPLEMENTS THAT FOUND ON PAGE 31.
The Money Market fund's seven-day yield for the period ended
February 28, 1997 was 4.75%.
