51.   The battle of these ice cream titans is thrilling investors and analysts who see the competition as an opportunity to lift revenues at both companies.

52.   The Communists denounce suggestions that Gazprom be broken up to foster competition as a Western plot to destroy what is left of Russian industry.

53.   The domestic telecommunications giant will also face domestic competition as KDD Co., the international phone company, will enter the domestic long-distance phone service market next month.

54.   The group favors competition as a way of forcing electric rates down.

55.   The HMO industry has faced shrinking margins for several years, stemming largely from intense pricing competition as health plans have fought for market share.

56.   The only other airport providing serious competition as a hub for handling airborne hard cases is Bangor, Maine.

57.   The mergers come as banks throughout Europe, particularly in countries with fragmented systems such as Italy and Germany, prepare for greater competition as financial barriers fall Europewide.

58.   The reason, he said, was that his employees thrive on competition as an opportunity to raise their levels of customer service.

59.   The pending retirement of Judge Jerome Farris generated as intense and talked-about backstage competition as the Seattle bar has experienced in recent years.

60.   The speculation is fueled by rising competition as several big mutually owned mortgage lenders convert to investor-owned banks, pushing existing banks to cut costs.