1.   There has been a modest upturn in most parts of the industry.

2.   A modest upturn in rig move activity did not occur until towards the year end and competition was aggressive.

3.   The modest upturn Thursday followed warning signals this week from the likes of superstar investor Warren Buffett and Morgan Stanley investment guru Barton Biggs.

4.   Analysts attributed lower prices for Nasdaq issues for the modest upturn.

5.   Analysts said buyers attracted by lower prices for Nasdaq issues accounted for the modest upturn.

6.   The major European indexes plunged to two- and three-year lows before the modest upturn on Wall Street helped prompt an afternoon rebound.

7.   The OECD expects a further fall in interest rates to trigger a modest upturn in the housing market.