11.   The wonder is that none of this seems to lessen the concern about inflation on Wall Street or at the Federal Reserve.

12.   When the central bank takes actions that lessen concerns about inflation, investors are willing to accept lower yields.

13.   But a month of on-and-off showers have steadily lessened those concerns and kept prices from exploding.

14.   Soybean futures fell sharply Thursday on the Chicago Board of Trade as forecasts for continuing rain in drought-plagued Brazil lessened concerns of crop damage.

15.   The deal lessens concerns of factional fighting in the city now that the Taliban are gone.

16.   The White House also sees increased engagement on the economic front as a way to lessen Russian concerns about U.S. plans to proceed with building a missile defense shield.

17.   The concern is not lessened by the fact the hostages were released unharmed on Monday after four days of captivity, he added.

18.   The fact that it was officially destined for Algeria may have lessened concern over it.