111.   There were market rumours that the government would take further steps to rein in speculation in the property market.

112.   There were rumours he could be persuaded to carry on and that his decision had been taken in the heat of the moment.

113.   There were rumours of intervention to support the franc but analysts here expected the main European currencies to change little before publication of US employment figures on Friday.

114.   There were also rumours that it was poised to announce a China-backed group had taken a stake in the company.

115.   There were rumours of strains within the marriage, but most media attention was focused on the more obviously troubled relationship of Charles and Diana.

116.   There were rumours that Swiss pharmaceuticals group Roche was on the point of bidding for Zeneca, but the latter claimed not to know anything about this.

117.   There were rumours then suggesting that the chairman of Chargeurs, Jerome Seydoux, might want to sell a stake held by his company in British company BSkyB.

118.   There were widespread rumours in the foreign exchange markets that the Bank of Japan was checking rates with dealers.

119.   Though physically small -- there were often rumours of leukemia or cancer -- the Shanghai politician, remained consistently powerful even if rarely seen in public.

120.   There had been rumours that the gearbox had been acting up in the morning session.