Stocks Perform Better Than Other Markets

NEW YORK — Stocks avoided the heavy losses of other financial markets Tuesday as investors took the view that Paul A. Volcker’s departure from the Federal Reserve was not a serious setback for equities.

These were the highlights of trading in individual stocks on Wall Street Tuesday:

- On the trading floor, a new issue of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich trading on a when-issued, post-recapitalization basis, was the most active NYSE-listed issue, up 1 3/8 to 9 1/8.

- Gillette was the second-most actively traded issue, up 1 3/8 to 32 as takeover speculation again swirled around the consumer products company, traders said.

- Harcourt Brace Jovanovich common, on the basis of the announced recapitalization last week after receiving an unwanted takeover offer, rose 2 3/8 to 56 5/8.

- General Electric rose 1 1/2 to 52 7/8 in active trading after analyst Nicholas Heymann of Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. added the stock to Drexel’s “priority selection list.”

- Retailer Handleman rose 7/8 to 26 7/8 after analyst Mark Manson of Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette recommended the stock and raised his earnings estimates.

- Semiconductor stocks came under heavy selling pressure after Merrill Lynch analyst Thomas Kurlak indicated in morning comments that he expected a slowdown in order rates. Texas Instruments fell seven to 169 3/4, Motorola fell 2 3/8 to 52 1/2, Advanced Micro Devices lost 3/4 to 21 3/8, National Semiconductor fell 1/2 to 13 and Intel Corp, trading over the counter, fell 2 1/2 to 39 3/4.

- Computer makers were under pressure as well. IBM skidded 2 3/8 to 157, NCR fell 2 5/8 to 71 and Hewlett Packard fell 2 1/8 to 64.