51.   Malaysian shares slipped lower, however, in early trading as investors trimmed portfolios amid expectations of a deterioration in the Malaysian economy, dealers said.

52.   Mahathir said the Malaysian economy has shown signs of improvement since he pegged the Malaysian ringgit to the dollar and limited trading in the currency to prevent speculative attacks.

53.   Mahathir warned the Malaysian economy was still vulnerable to external shocks and its growth was linked to the global economic environment.

54.   Meanwhile, the additional policy measures came at a time when confidence is seen as slowly returning to the Malaysian economy.

55.   Many economists and analysts are also beginning to forecast a strengthening in the Malaysian economy by year-end or early next year.

56.   Most of the news and information about the Malaysian economy were negatively perceived.

57.   Nevertheless, the analyst said there may be cause for worry if the Malaysian economy fails to recover within next year, as retrenchment is on the rise.

58.   NORWEGIAN industrial company Norsk Hydro ASA is confident the Malaysian economy and regional economies are able to pull out of the current economic downturn.

59.   Navaratnam told AFP that any rates increase would, however, be done gradually and upon careful monitoring of the Malaysian economy.

60.   On the days when other sectors are experiencing its downturns, commodity comes as a pendulum to Malaysian economy.