11.   But what really hurt sentiment and triggered the sell-off were rumors about possible layoffs at brokerage houses and heavy debts at local property companies.

12.   Dealers said the currency problems in the region continued to hurt sentiments on the local bourse.

13.   Disappointing economic figures released in recent weeks continued to hurt market sentiment, Aklan said.

14.   Fears of further collapses among financially weak companies hurt market sentiment, traders said.

15.   However, they also acknowledged that the sharp falls in the New York and Tokyo bourses were hurting the sentiment in Hong Kong.

16.   In Bangkok, declines on regional bourses and a weaker baht currency continued to hurt sentiment and forced a sell-off in banking and finance stocks.

17.   Investor sentiment was also hurt by a continuing litany of bad news about the sputtering domestic economy.

18.   KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad vowed yesterday to stop making remarks that hurt market sentiment.

19.   Losses on Wall Street overnight Tuesday also hurt sentiments.

20.   Meanwhile, more student demonstrations Wednesday hurt market sentiment in Indonesia, dealers said.