Award-winning economist James F. Smith will be joined by noted economist David W. Berson at the 17th annual Crystal Ball Seminar on April 12 at UNC Asheville's Owen Conference Center. The economists will explore the business and financial outlook through 2002, including

state, national and international implications.

The seminar, sponsored by the UNCA Economics Department and Centura, begins with a 6:15 p.m. reception, followed by the speakers at 7 p.m. and a question-and-answer period at 8 p.m.

The economic outlook portion will focus on inflation, employment, interest rates and the strength of the dollar, as well as the North Carolina budget. The financial outlook portion will explore the implications of Federal Reserve policy for financial markets and address various

investments, with an emphasis on interest rates and the bond market.

Smith, professor of finance at UNC Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, has more than 25 years of experience as an economics forecaster. His career spans private industry, government and academic institutions and includes tenures with Wharton Econometrics, Union Carbide and UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School. Twice in the past three years, he was named the best economic forecaster by the Wall Street Journal. Berson, as vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae, is responsible for forecasting interest rates and the housing market. He is a past president of National Association of Business Economists, and has been chief financial economist at Wharton Econometrics Forecasting Associates and a visiting scholar with the Federal Reserve.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. To register, call UNCA's Economics Department at 828/251-6550 or by email.