51.   Meanwhile, the Conference Board said American consumers turned less optimistic in December.

52.   The draw against the English club left Leverkusen optimistic in the murderous group D, in which all four sides are locked in a dead heat with four points.

53.   The Fed also was not optimistic in the statement it issued Wednesday, expressing concern that business activity was diminishing.

54.   The Fed also was not optimistic in the statement it issued Wednesday, which expressed concern that business activity was diminishing.

55.   The leaders sounded cautiously optimistic in a financial statement Friday.

56.   The latest survey results showed participants are somewhat less positive in their assessment of present economic conditions and less optimistic in their expectations for the immediate months ahead.

57.   The much-watched IFO business index reported earlier Thursday that business confidence in western Germany was less optimistic in February than January.

58.   The senior minister also accussed U.S. rating agencies of being overy optimistic in their assessments of credit risks.

59.   U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher was also optimistic in an interview published Sunday.

60.   But some members accused Norway of being too optimistic in its figures.