1.   An overwhelming majority expected a cut before the last meeting, a month ago.

2.   But the commissioner will have to wait for Giuliani to make final decisions on possible budget cuts before deciding what the department can purchase.

3.   Chilean stocks rallied as slower-than-expected economic growth in July sparked hopes of an interest rate cut before the end of the year.

4.   Chilean stocks declined for a second day after the central bank tried to dampen hopes of an interest rate cut before the end of the year.

5.   Chilean stocks rallied as a drop in inflation fed optimism of an interest rate cut before the end of the year.

6.   Chilean stocks fell for the first time in five days as optimism faded for an interest rate cut before the end of the year.

7.   Chilean stocks rallied as a drop in inflation fed hopes of an interest rate cut before the end of the year.

8.   Congress had been contemplating new tax cuts before the attacks to bolster the flagging economy.

9.   Democrats said the Republican plan risked a return to deficits by committing the country to sweeping tax cuts before the surpluses actually materialized.

10.   Declining hopes of an interest rate cut before the end of the year also hurt stocks, Tolosa said.