1.   A Decline in oil stocks countered gains in companies expected to post higher profits even in a sluggish economy.

2.   Analysts say private management should mean higher profits at the bank.

3.   As a result, he said, Unix software and services will increasingly generate higher profits and growth.

4.   During that period, dearer rents were not entirely ploughed into higher profits for the development companies and institutional landlords.

5.   Innovation is seen as desirable because it invariably increases efficiency, and makes for higher profits.

6.   Not until higher prices translate into higher profits for private owners will enterprises respond appropriately to the bidding of the invisible hand.

7.   Although diagnostics was a mildly profitable business, Chiron will see higher profits without it.

8.   Ameritech Corp., Bell Atlantic Corp., BellSouth Corp., SBC Communications Inc. and U S West Inc. will have higher profits.

9.   An agreement that natural gas is the principal hydrocarbon of Piedemonte would mean higher profits for BP.

10.   Among other large local companies, Staples Inc., State Street Corp., Allmerica Financial Corp., and Boston Scientific Corp. were expected to report higher quarterly profits.