1.   The decline comes against a background of global concern over reduced populations of amphibians worldwide.

2.   And that decline came even though the company bought back a large number of shares, which usually raises the stock price because fewer shares are on the market.

3.   After energy, the biggest recent price declines have come in industries that are operating far below capacity.

4.   Against the Japanese yen, the move was smaller because much bigger declines came earlier in the week.

5.   Almost all the decline came after the central bank gave its monthly report on trade and investment and its annual economic forecasts.

6.   But the severe declines came when serious recessions were under way.

7.   Chilean stocks fell after a recent decline in interest rates came to an end as economic growth remains robust.

8.   Declines came as comments by Federal Reserve Gov. Laurence Meyer warned that inflation could accelerate.

9.   Economists said the declines came as a surprise because other indicators, like industrial production and unemployment figures, suggested Mexico was emerging from its recession.

10.   For Sears and American Express, the declines came after they both beat earnings expectations in reports released Thursday.