81.   Renewed weakness in the currency and a plunge in April foreign-exchange reserves heightened speculation of another interest-rate rise.

82.   Revco stock already had experienced a runup recently on speculation of a merger.

83.   Russia edged toward a new political crisis Tuesday as legislators set impeachment proceedings against President Boris N. Yeltsin for this week amid growing speculation of a major government shakeup.

84.   Roche sought to dampen speculation of a merger with Novartis, saying that the two companies would merely cooperate when it made sense commercially.

85.   Shares in the smaller terrestrial television companies, including Scottish Television, reached new highs earlier this year as speculation of mergers and takeovers grew.

86.   So Lane resigned, fueling speculation of a rift with Ellison or a tie-in to the now-infamous Microsoft-related Dumpster diving.

87.   Speculation of a cut mounted this week after the U.S. Federal Reserve eased credit Tuesday.

88.   Speculation of a move by Carlton comes amid consolidation of the U.K. media industry before a loosening of cross-media ownership rules expected this summer.

89.   Speculation of a rate cut has been brewing the past week, since economic reports pointed to easing inflation and wages growth in the second quarter.

90.   Speculation of such a deal has centered on California-based WellPoint Health Networks, a huge, highly profitable insurer with Blue Cross roots.