11.   Falling oil prices and weaker demand for petroleum held down imports, offsetting a drop in exports to Asia.

12.   Firmer prices for crude oil coupled with the sale of assets in Angola helped offset a drop in production.

13.   Florida lawmakers are bracing for a special legislative session later this month, where they are expected to whack government programs to offset the drop in tax revenues.

14.   French stocks were little changed as advances by Rhone-Poulenc SA and Alcatel Alsthom SA offset drops by LVMH SA and Lafarge SA.

15.   Gains in computer shares helped offset the drop.

16.   Gains at Cathay and the property division helped offset a drop in profit at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. and Swire Beverages.

17.   Gains in computer-related shares offset the drop.

18.   Helping offset the drop in computer stocks, brokerages advanced.

19.   Helping offset the drop in computer stocks was the rally in brokerage stocks.

20.   In Singapore Friday, stocks were mixed as a gain in Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. offset a drop in property stocks amid expectations consumer borrowing rates are poised to rise.