Updating Sony Corp. ADRs, Adobe Systems Inc., PepsiCo Inc. and Newmont Mining Corp.

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SONY CORP. ADRs $51 (New York symbol SNE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.0 billion; Market cap: $51.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) has outfitted its new PlayStation 3 video game player with its Blu-ray high-definition DVD technology. Sony feels this will help Blu-ray become the dominant format for high-definition DVDs. The plan seems to be working. Blu-ray now has about 70% of the market. Video rental chain Blockbuster now plans to carry only Blu-ray titles, which should spur more demand for Blu-ray players. Sony is a buy. ADOBE SYSTEMS INC. $40 (Nasdaq symbol ADBE; Aggressive Growth Portfolio; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 588.0 million; Market cap: $23.5 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) earned $0.37 a share in its second fiscal quarter ended June 1, 2007, up 19.4% from $0.31 a year earlier. These figures exclude unusual items. Revenue rose 17.3%, to a record $745.6 million from $635.5 million, due to the recent launch of new versions of its…