New Orleans securities executives participating in The States-Item's first stock market roundtable all were confident of a strong market in common stocks for 1980. Particularly, they predict, after the year's opening months. They hedge this optimism, however, with a list of large ifs - they're still worried about high interest rates, inflation, international political instability and energy. The roundtable was taped January 3 with States-Item business editor John Hall as moderator. The participants were Morrell Trimble, vice president in charge of the New Orleans office of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith; Francis J. Schultz, vice president and manager of the office of Paine Webber Jackson & Curtis; Keith H. Kittle; vice president and manager of the office of Dean Witter Reynolds, and Tom L. Epperson, vice president and research chief of Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs.

Photo is dated 1980.

Photo measures 8 x 10.25 inches.