11.   As these profits shrink, banks in turn may need to reduce their asset base by cutting back on lending to Japanese companies, escalating a credit crunch.

12.   At the time, many experts sounded the alarm about an impending credit crunch in which financing could become scarce for American businesses and consumers.

13.   Avoid a credit crunch.

14.   Bankers are racing to lend to business and consumers, a far cry from the recent credit crunch.

15.   A credit crunch crippling a struggling economy is a serious forecast.

16.   A global credit crunch has resulted, with countries that lived off of huge flows of international investment now unable to obtain it at any price.

17.   A global credit crunch could keep interest rates high for the next several years.

18.   A shortfall is bad news for a country such as Thailand, which has a cash and credit crunch.

19.   Action is essential because Japan is in the midst of a severe credit crunch as shaky banks try to avoid new losses by avoiding almost all loans.

20.   But many private farmers got caught in a credit crunch.