1.   Microsoft Corp. Thursday announced strong quarterly sales and earnings, beating Wall Street expectations and easing fears of a marked slowdown in personal computer sales.

2.   On Tuesday, the Conference Board is likely to report consumer confidence in the U.S. economy weakened during May amid the marked slowdown in overall business activity.

3.   That follows a marked economic slowdown in the economy.

4.   The economic situation of countries within Europe contrasts, with some countries undergoing a marked slowdown and high unemployment.

5.   The risk of a marked slowdown in growth appears greater to them than the risk of a rapid acceleration in growth, they said.

6.   It is difficult to quantify in manpower terms or as percentages, but current demand trends are not consistent with a marked slowdown in the industry.

7.   Reflecting the economic slowdown, the Central Statistics Bureau on Wednesday released half-year figures that showed a marked slowdown in economic growth.

8.   The IMF said next year would probably see the most marked simultaneous slowdown among all regions of the world in at least two decades.

9.   The marked slowdown led the Fed to cut interest rates twice within the past month.

10.   He also noted a marked slowdown on the currency market, mainly because of the absence of major companies as a result of summer vacations.