1.   Factory hours also rose but factory overtime showed no change.

2.   First-half sales rose but margins thinned because of sluggish markets.

3.   Health care analysts said that no longer requiring prior approvals might increase costs slightly if the number of procedures rose, but the change would be popular with customers.

4.   In Kansas City Value Line stock-index futures, the stock-index cash rose but the March futures contract fell.

5.   Suppose the manager is holding a portfolio whose value rises when interest rates rise but falls when interest rates fall.

6.   Bond prices rose but stock investors worried that the economy may be declining enough to start lowering corporate earnings.

7.   Consumer prices rose but the Thai baht stabilized slightly against the dollar Friday following an effective devaluation aimed at turning around the faltering economy.

8.   In Africa and the Middle East, sales rose but profit declined due to difficult trading conditions in Turkey, Nigeria and East Africa.

9.   In Hong Kong, shares rose but a lack of buying interest ahead of the holidays prevented prices from moving much.

10.   Oat futures also rose but corn and soybeans fell amid expectations for increased farmer selling in the new year.