31.   Nymex floor trading began one hour late today so people had more time to get to work amid weather-related delays on roads, trains and buses.

32.   Officials of the brokerage houses and their attorneys were unavailable for comment on the decision late today.

33.   Officials of both companies were unavailable for comment late today about whether talks are continuing.

34.   Pac Bell said service would be completely restored by late today.

35.   Prices also fell after Codelco said that its El Teniente copper mine, the third-largest in Chile, could return to normal production late today.

36.   Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto will meet Construction Minister Shizuka Kamei late today to discuss the measures, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported this morning.

37.   Port officials said late today that an agreement ending the strike was close.

38.   Quantum Corp. joined the chorus late today, announcing that its earnings, too, will fall short of estimates.

39.   Rather than see the dispute tie up the popular health insurance measure, the House and then the Senate deleted it late today.

40.   San Rafael, California-based Autodesk announced late today that Softdesk shareholders approved the acquisition and the companies had closed the transaction.