'Hot Line' For Investors Is Swamped
a A new telephone hot line to help small investors troubled by the stock market collapse was swamped on its opening day and had to double its phone lines to four and bring in extra help, its operators said yesterday.</br></br>More than 500 calls poured in Monday, the first day of operation, according to the the North American Securities Administrators Association. ÛÏI was astounded. People need a shoulder to cry on,Û said Scott Stapf, a spokesman for the group, which represents state regulatory agencies.</br></br>The toll-free number is 1-800-942-9022, or 737-0900 in the District. It operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and will continue "as long as it is needed,Û Stapf said.</br></br>ÐÊ Genex Corp. of Gaithersburg said yesterday it had agreed to acquire Xydex Corp., a privately held Massachusetts biotechnology firm.</br></br>Genex, the Washington area's leading biotechnology company, will exchange 2.2 million shares of its common stock for all the outstanding shares of Xydex.