61.   The immediate fallout from the failure was not clear, but appeared to return the battle to investors who will have to weigh competing offers.

62.   They bid against each other with competing offers of chocolate, vodka and small change.

63.   U.S. regulators are still assessing the competing offers, as are European Union antitrust officials.

64.   At the close of trade in New York Thursday, the AngloGold offer was two cents behind a competing offer from US-based Newmont Mining Corp.

65.   The South African gold giant said no more cash would be offered despite the competing offer by US rival Newmont carrying the support of Normandys board.