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Bill Merry Jr. is crossing his fingers the stock market will rally further in 2004 and not just to boost his own portfolio.
Merry is president of Herndon & Merry Inc., an architectural metal designer that gets much of its work from highend homebuilders. After some softness in 2001 and a dip in 2002, that sector has rebounded with the economy, low interest rates and a rising stock market, Merry says.
"We would like to see 10 percent growth in sales next year," the 44-year-old says. "A lot of our clientele and their wealth is tied to market conditions. We look more at what the market is doing than at interest rates because a lot of our clients don't borrow money to build."
KS Home guilders Inc. President Keith Schumacher, whose company builds homes worth $1 million and more, says wrought-iron work has become more popular in recent years as homeowners have turned to French, English and Scottish-styled homes, which feature more railings, balconies and other decorative items.
"I look for that to...