1.   On financial Markets today, bonds and stocks plunged amid growing pessimism about an early balanced-budget accord.

2.   And the decline in the markets both reflects growing pessimism and strengthens the case for that pessimism.

3.   Export prospects worsened in the capital goods industry, the backbone of the German economy, led by growing pessimism among makers of machinery and commercial vehicles.

4.   Even amidst growing pessimism over Asian shares, some planned sales of new stocks have managed to match expectations.

5.   He had watched with anger and growing pessimism as Ego Trip folded and whites asserted ever-greater control over the hip-hop industry.

6.   He feels bad about the growing pessimism about the changeover.

7.   Some Japanese government officials, acknowledging growing pessimism among consumers and companies, Tuesday stepped up pressure on the Finance Ministry to approve further action to boost the economy.

8.   Some Japanese government officials, acknowledging growing pessimism among consumers and companies, yesterday stepped up pressure on the Finance Ministry to approve further action to boost the economy.

9.   The announcement by Mitchel McLaughlin, chairman of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, deepened the growing pessimism around the talks.