1.   Analysts said a growing U.K. budget deficit, competition from bond sales elsewhere, worry about European monetary union and general market weakness conspired to keep investors away.

2.   Analysts said a growing U.K. budget deficit, competition from bond sales elsewhere, worry about European monetary union and market weakness conspired to keep investors away.

3.   An extended period of market weakness, which would add to the appeal of predictable returns, could rekindle investor interest in companies that pay out cash.

4.   Because the companies are so dependent on order flow and capital spending, their stocks tend to be volatile and therefore vulnerable during market weakness.

5.   But for now, investors are willing to assume that any big sign of market weakness is a buying opportunity.

6.   But the profits gauge is not foolproof as an indicator of market weakness.

7.   Ericsson also cited market weakness that it expects to last all year.

8.   New England Funds is reporting a higher level of new investments in its municipal bond funds because of the market weakness, Greggs said.

9.   On Monday, Manny Darosa, comptroller for a Walpole software developer, used the market weakness to buy General Electric and Fleet Financial Group.

10.   Other casualties that will suffer from Asian market weakness include producers of heavy machinery, and of basic materials such as chemicals, paper, steel and aluminum.