41.   Earnings also will rise for companies that buy back stock, such as Cinergy Corp. and Duke Power, said Christopher of Crowell Weedon.

42.   Enron later agreed to buy back Azurix stock for less than half what public shareholders had paid.

43.   First Bank wanted to buy back stock quickly to keep the millions of shares it must issue to acquire First Interstate from eating into its per-share earnings.

44.   For almost four years the company has boosted the bottom line by firing people, spending less and buying back stock.

45.   Foreigners likely sold Japanese stocks through the middle of September, and bought back stocks toward the end of the month, the Finance Ministry official said.

46.   Goodyear could use the money from a sale or spinoff to pursue acquisitions or to buy back stock, Kornitzer said.

47.   Gerstner has committed billions to buy back stock.

48.   He also likes defense companies, including McDonnell Douglas Corp., Lockheed Corp. and Litton Industries Inc. because they throw off lots of cash and are buying back stock.

49.   IBM is making a habit of buying back stock.

50.   In a bid to soften the earnings blow for shareholders, the company said it would use half of that money to buy back stock.