11.   Higher interest rates are bad for stocks because they stunt economic growth, crimp company earnings and make stocks less attractive than fixed-income investments.

12.   Higher interest rates make fixed-income securities more attractive to many investors since rising borrowing costs can crimp company earnings and the size of dividends paid shareholders.

13.   Higher rates also boost borrowing costs for companies, crimping earnings.

14.   Higher rates slow economic growth and crimp corporate earnings.

15.   Hong Kong stocks fell for the first time this week, led by banks and property stocks, amid concern rising borrowing costs will crimp corporate earnings.

16.   High interest rates slow economic growth and boost borrowing costs for companies, which can crimp earnings.

17.   Inflation could lead to higher interest rates, which would crimp corporate earnings.

18.   Investors also wonder whether any austerity steps will be so harsh that they crimp corporate earnings.

19.   INDONESIAN stocks rose, with a gain in PT Telkom offsetting a decline in banking stocks, which fell on concern that limits on credit growth may crimp earnings.

20.   It also crimps corporate earnings by forcing companies to pay more for imported raw materials and dollar debts.