11.   At the same time, the company had reduced the volume of new books it was buying, to adjust for the sluggish market.

12.   At the same time, the company reduced its fourth-quarter forecast, pointing to an uncertain economy.

13.   Because of the lifetime employment tradition, companies are reducing payrolls by hiring fewer new employees and urging middle managers to take early retirement.

14.   Besides focusing on the workplace, some mutual fund companies are reducing sales charges or waiving minimum investment amounts on certain funds.

15.   Besides the layoffs, the company is reducing the number of subcontractors it uses, implementing a general hiring freeze, eliminating most overtime and cutting travel expenditures.

16.   -- One provision could let companies reduce the number of lower-paid employees covered by pensions and give larger benefits to the highest-paid employees.

17.   A lack of competition has allowed oil companies to reduce gasoline supplies and cause record price spikes in recent years, congressional investigators conclude in a report released Monday.

18.   A Qwest spokesman said the company has already reduced the number of slamming complaints.

19.   A weak yen enables Japanese companies to reduce their price on products sold in the U.S. and still generate adequate revenue when the dollars are converted to yen.

20.   After all, many companies have already reduced their expectations because of the foundering economy.