Quicken

BEIJING -- In a reversal of their historic roles, China -- the recipient of massive aid from the Soviet Union before the two nations' bitter estrangement in 1960 -- is now offering to help the troubled Soviet economy with "commodity loans."The offer of the loans this week is only one example of the recently increased pace of Sino-Soviet rapprochement, which began with the renewal of official relations during Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev's visit almost two years ago.Next week, during a visit by Soviet Defense Minister Dmitry T. Yazov, the two Communist giants are expected to take another step toward closer ties by sealing an arms deal in which the Soviet Union would earn badly needed cash by selling China a dozen Su-27 fighter jets and possibly other military technology.

Now that the financial year is winding up for many of you, it might be a good idea to start the new year with a better way of spending, saving and tracking your money. Last week I mentioned Quicken, a program I use, as a great program. This week Christopher Meeks will tell you about the new version of Andrew Tobias' Managing Your Money.MECA, Managing Your Money's manufacturer, has done something I've never seen or heard of before: It has totally reinvented a popular program, betting that loyal users will throw out old ways of thinking and learn new ways.

This time of year I'm inundated with software or literature about software. Manufacturers, naturally, know people are on the prowl for gifts. And there are also plenty of people boxed in for the winter who are looking to improve their computer systems. Here are some of the more intriguing pieces I've found.BDL HOMEWARE. Bette Laswell, president of BDL Homeware, sent me some of her programs she describes as "ready to use -- you don't have to figure out how to customize it." Her programs, for IBM compatibles, are for home-based needs.