51.   Fears of higher interest rates ahead in Japan also dampened buying sentiment.

52.   Fear of rising interest rates which will reduce corporate earnings also dampened sentiments, the analyst said.

53.   Following an overnight rise on Wall Street, Tokyo stocks opened slightly higher but soon fell back as falling futures prices dampened sentiment.

54.   Growing tensions between President Joseph Estrada and the Philippine media and its possible impact on the business climate also dampened market sentiment, traders said.

55.   In addition, a decline in New York stock prices Tuesday also dampened sentiment, traders said.

56.   In addition, analysts said, other worries such as lower future corporate earnings and fears of rising interest rates dampened sentiment.

57.   In Indonesia, a huge student rally at the Parliament dampened sentiment on the Jakarta Stock Exchange.

58.   Increasing fears of a possible correction in the U.S. markets further dampened market sentiment on Thursday, said Patrick Yiu, an analyst at Kingsway SW Securities.

59.   Investor sentiment was dampened by an overnight fall by the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index in New York.

60.   Investor sentiment was dampened by an overnight fall by the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite average in New York.