21.   Brokerages declined amid concern trading scandals and elimination of fixed commissions could hurt their profit growth, traders said.

22.   Brokerage shares also declined amid concern more brokerages could be implicated in a scandal at Nomura Securities Co. over payoffs to racketeers.

23.   Brokerage firms also declined amid expectations that a stock market drop would diminish trading.

24.   Brokerage shares declined amid speculation a trading scandal at Nomura Securities Co. will spread to other firms.

25.   Building material stocks and other interest-rate sensitive equities offset some declines amid optimism the central bank will cut interest rates for a fifth time in a year.

26.   Brazilian stocks declined amid speculation the planned sale next week of Rio de Janeiro utility Light Servicos de Eletricidade SA will be postponed.

27.   Builder Acciona SA declined even amid expectations that it will be selected today to join the IBEX Index of most actively traded shares.

28.   Chilean stocks declined amid concern slowing Asian economies will hurt the earnings of companies that export a lot to countries there.

29.   Chilean stocks declined amid concern economic troubles in Argentina could hurt the earnings of leading electric utilities.

30.   Chilean stocks declined amid concern that falling commodities prices will cut into earnings of companies with strong export revenue from Asia.