11.   He said it will be difficult for all but the largest brokerage firms to compete independently.

12.   In the past, he said, it has been difficult for consulting firms to compete against accountants who audit a potential client.

13.   In the United States, the measures designed to ensure that firms compete with one another for the benefit of consumers are known as the antitrust statutes.

14.   In this market segment, online firms are competing with conventional pharmacies.

15.   Increasingly, technology firms are competing for talent with companies that simply use computers.

16.   Pharmaceutical firms are now competing for the next AIDS fortune.

17.   Small firms cannot compete for executive talent.

18.   Smaller firms compete by offering generous leaves.

19.   Still, many firms cannot compete with the allure of options, which let workers purchase stock at a preset price at some time in the future.

20.   Supporters said the sharing of professions is inevitable and allows U.S. firms to compete internationally with European firms that already allow it.