51.   Rate hikes are a means to try to cap inflation, which can be triggered by a declining currency value.

52.   A rising dollar also eats away at the currency exchange value of whatever revenues U.S. companies manage to generate in that troubled region.

53.   Analysts said the current situation represents a far greater threat to the global economy, especially if more countries fall victim to plunging currency values and stock market turmoil.

54.   As a result, you get many traders doing the same thing at the same time and that causes a visible fall or rise in currency value.

55.   Bush has been steadfast in not commenting on the yen, saying repeatedly before his Asia trip that the marketplace must determine currency values.

56.   But lower operating costs in these countries gave benefits, and lower currency values should lead to strong export growth.

57.   But Sweden is deeply indebted and its currency value is unsteady, and economists fear wage hikes could increase inflation.

58.   Falling currency values, especially in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand, have been the biggest source of concern for the airlines.

59.   Malaysia announced Wednesday it will create a special agency to help banks and companies struggling to survive a financial crisis that has brought down currency values and stock prices.

60.   Malaysia has announced new steps to defend its economy against so-called rogue speculators whom the government blames for driving down Malaysian stocks and currency values.