1.   Allan Kaplan, a tobacco industry analyst at Merrill Lynch, discounted the likelihood that states would ultimately receive large damage awards from the companies.

2.   But neither do mortgage analysts and economists summarily discount the likelihood that further Federal Reserve rate cuts may cause mortgage rates to go even lower.

3.   Despite the stepped-up attacks, military experts generally discount the likelihood of an all-out Russian invasion of Chechnya.

4.   Since, though, commentators on the politics of the region discounted the likelihood of an escalation in the clashes and shows of strength.

5.   Investigators had discounted the likelihood of a kidnapper because the private hunting area is accessible only through a gate with a combination lock.

6.   Ira Furber, former National Transportation Safety Board spokesman, discounted the likelihood of accident.

7.   Investigators have discounted the likelihood of a kidnapper because the private hunting area is accessible only through a gate with a combination lock.

8.   Many market players discounted the likelihood of large-scale yen-buying by the Bank of Japan, however.

9.   Still, some players discounted the likelihood of large-scale yen purchases by the Bank of Japan.

10.   However, he discounted the likelihood of Karadzic appearing at the meeting unexpectedly.