31.   Some other staffing firms are facing much higher bench rates.

32.   Small and mid-sized mutual fund firms face growing pressure to merge in order to expand sales channels and pare operating costs.

33.   Stocks, meanwhile, were little changed as optimism for lower corporate borrowing costs was eclipsed by concern electrical equipment and other technological firms may face dwindling profits.

34.   The firm could face penalties ranging from a trading suspension of a few days to the revocation of its securities license.

35.   The firm itself may face the biggest losses, regardless of the decision.

36.   The firm faced an uphill battle in convincing investors to buy the funds since the U.S. stock market outperformed almost all international markets for a second straight year.

37.   The firm faces a possible legal challenge from several former employees seeking compensation they say is due them, according to a lawyer representing the ex-employees.

38.   The firm is facing defections of important staff members and slippage in areas where it long smothered the competition.

39.   The firm faces a daunting task.

40.   The firm faces hundreds of millions of dollars in potential liability from lawsuits by Enron shareholders and creditors, as well.