FOREIGN INVESTMENT guarantees, by which Government insures private U.S. investments abroad against expropriation or war (TIME, July 28), are due for big expansion. Administration will ask to boost maximum Government coverage from $500 million to $1 billion; Congress is favorably disposed because program, instead of losing money, actually has put $3,000,000 in Treasury.

AIRMAIL SUBSIDIES, which have been declining since Korean war, will jump by $10,455,000 to $61,786,000 in fiscal 1960. More than 75% of total will go to local feeder airlines.

SHOE PRICES will rise as much as 10% this spring, say makers. Men's shoes will feel the pinch most.

AIRCRAFT EXCHANGE, INC. will be set up as a clearinghouse to match buyers and sellers of the 4,000 piston planes that are expected to go on the block in next five years. The founder, former American Airlines Executive Robert Helliesen, hopes exchange will also be able to put potential buyers in touch with lending agencies for necessary financing.

LONGEST ROAD TUNNEL in world will be carved through Mont Blanc in the Alps, will run seven miles between Italy and France, cut road distance from Paris to Milan by 194 miles. Cost: $31.6 million.

EASIER CREDIT will be offered to smaller companies. Small Business Administration formerly handled only loans to firms with fewer than 500 employees. But with new ruling under Small Business Investment Act, which made $250 million available in credit (TIME, June 9), almost any business is eligible if it has assets of less than $5,000,000, annual profits less than $150,000.

EXOTIC FUEL DEAL will link Dow Chemical with U.S. Borax (TIME, June 10, 1957) to research ways for economic manufacture of boron trichloride, used in high-energy Space Age fuels.

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