21.   Fourtou said the company would improve earnings even as Centeon and its chemicals and fibers divisions faced a difficult first half.

22.   For years, Enron had been using a collection of partnerships to move debt off its books and improve earnings.

23.   Government and monetary policies remain generally favorable and many small companies are still finding new markets and can continue to improve their earnings at double-digit rates, he said.

24.   He pointed to Accustaff, a temporary employment company that recently announced an acquisition that should improve earnings and help its growth rate.

25.   He said company expects to improve earnings as the benefits of reorganization kick in and the company takes advantage of new technology to widen its customer base.

26.   He said the competition will continue to be intense this year and the company will do all it can to improve earnings.

27.   Hong Kong Electric will make international investments, particularly in Asia, to improve earnings.

28.   Improving corporate earnings are further fueling the market, says Don Phillips, publisher of Morningstar Mutual Funds, an investment newsletter in Chicago.

29.   In a terse statement, Philips said it needs to accelerate plans already in hand to improve earnings.

30.   Investors have been hurling money into Russian shares because they expect companies to improve their earnings soon.