11.   Before the adjustment, the central bank was forced to keep rates high to defend the currency.

12.   Brazil raised interest rates to defend its currency, choking domestic growth and causing its foreign exchange reserves to dwindle.

13.   Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso urged Brazilians to delay credit purchases after the central bank doubled interest rates to defend the currency from attack.

14.   Brazil this week said it will slash spending and raise taxes to cut its budget deficit and defend its currency.

15.   Brazil still has ample resources to defend its currency, as it had to do Wednesday even after the devaluation.

16.   Brazilian authorities have vowed to defend the currency at all costs.

17.   But the country could no longer afford to defend the currency with its diminishing reserves, which must also be used to pay foreign debt.

18.   Central banks have intervened to defend currencies, and in some cases have sought to identify the speculators who were putting pressure on their currencies.

19.   China has enough foreign exchange to defend its currency, and its relatively closed financial system makes speculation against the currency difficult.

20.   Central banks in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines raised interest rates to defend their currencies.