41.   Mullaney bought mortgage securities when their prices slumped last month.

42.   Nickel prices have slumped to three-year lows on increasing supplies as demand slows, particularly in Asia and Japan.

43.   Now, foreign investors are focusing their attention on the U.S., where the threat of higher interest rates is causing share prices to slump.

44.   Oil prices slumped this winter as mild weather sapped heating oil demand, refiners began maintenance work and Iraq began exporting oil under a United Nations plan.

45.   Oil prices slumped earlier this week as concern eased that Middle East military tensions would escalate and disrupt the flow of oil from the region.

46.   Oil prices slumped in the second quarter.

47.   On other commodity markets, cotton and energy prices slumped.

48.   Oil prices slumped in recent weeks as mild weather and refinery upkeep damped demand at a time of rising oil output.

49.   Prices had slumped in early New York trading as securities firms that arrange corporate bond sales sold Treasuries to hedge against rising interest rates.

50.   Prices slumped slightly.