51.   And they argue that American chemical companies could face new regulations, inspections, and loss of trade secrets.

52.   And U.S. companies have faced a shortage of domestic durum wheat for pasta, and older, less-efficient machines, which have eaten into their bottom lines.

53.   And while Compaq and Digital officials foresee a bright future of synergy between the two firms, others believe the combined companies face a host of challenges.

54.   Another growing area of concern is the liability that companies may face.

55.   As a pressure tactic, the union has made much of purportedly massive financial liabilities the media companies would face if the case is decided against them.

56.   As a result of its success, the company now faces competition from auctions hosted by Yahoo!, America Online, MSN.com, GO Network and others.

57.   As illustrated by the death last week of Circle Rep, small off-Broadway theater companies face a Darwinian struggle for survival.

58.   As managed-care concerns look hard for ways to save money, many specialized companies may face similar risks.

59.   As the economy improves, companies may face rising interest rates and rising wages.

60.   Aside from the immediate problem of rising fuel costs, the company faces the prospect of falling ticket prices as competition within Japan heats up.