11.   But critics say they have been poorly regulated and were already vulnerable before the latest crisis hit.

12.   But in terms of rupiah, the hotel rates are still relatively more stable than those before the monetary crisis hit the country.

13.   But Russia was importing close to half of all its consumer goods until the recent crisis hit.

14.   In the decade before the crisis hit, Singaporeans were accustomed to choosing from among plentiful jobs, and getting generous benefits and fat bonuses.

15.   MORE THAN eight months after the currency crisis hit Southeast Asiancountries last July, the casualties are appearing.

16.   Prices gyrated wildly shortly after the crisis hit in August, but have been relatively stable in recent weeks.

17.   Russian inflation had been coming down after years of soaring prices and was expected to be in the single digits this year until the economic crisis hit.

18.   South Korean automakers are suffering from slack domestic sales because of sharply decreasing consumer demand since the Asian economic crisis hit.

19.   That was before the worst of the crisis hit.

20.   The Estrada crisis hit the stock market badly when it broke in October, and the local currency, the peso, has weakened sharply against the dollar.