1.   And it would help the GOP respond to critics who have accused the Republican-led Congress of trying to erode civil rights gains.

2.   And these gains could be eroded if firms were caught with sizable investments in Southeast Asia when those markets collapsed.

3.   Bond prices rose on the gross domestic product report, but the gains were eroded by the home-sales data.

4.   But the passage of time and recent publicity touting the health advantages of certain types of alcohol, like red wine, seem to have eroded the gains.

5.   Gains were eroded in late afternoon trading as some investors pulled out ahead of a five-day long weekend.

6.   In most cases, GM agreed to hire more workers, though probably not enough to erode the gains it made through attrition, McAlinden and others said.

7.   It also makes foreign investors reluctant to put money in Thailand because real gains are eroded by rising prices and interest rates, he said.

8.   It said a weaker performance by its food and agribusiness units eroded gains by packaging and beverage arms.

9.   Profit came in below expectations, though, after a final charge related to Grundig AG eroded one-time gains.

10.   Sales gains were eroded by investment for building up and strengthening the overall company and by higher costs for wages and shorter working hours, the company said.