1.   Tight supplies worldwide have kept traders focused on any potential crop failure.

2.   Traders are focused on Washington, where Republicans and Democrats are hammering out an agreement to balance the federal budget.

3.   Many traders are focused on Washington, where Republicans and Democrats are hammering out an agreement on how to balance the federal budget.

4.   Traders are focused on the report because consumers account for about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity.

5.   Traders were focused on the Iraq talks all day.

6.   While oil traders were focused on short-term prospects, stock market investors looked to economic conditions and the outlook for corporate profits next year.

7.   Stock traders are focused on corporate earnings, a day after the major indices rebounded from one of the biggest plunges this year.

8.   Traders were focused on the publication on Friday of the first estimate for US GDP growth in the second quarter.

9.   Traders were also focused on the release of US jobless figures for May on Friday.