11.   The already depressed shares of both companies hit new lows after the announcement.

12.   The index dropped as a dispute over electricity distribution rates depressed shares in electric utilities.

13.   Then the stock market started falling, dragging with it the already depressed shares of both companies.

14.   Until recently, that kind of thinking depressed share prices of the big publicly traded newspaper companies.

15.   Depressed share prices are regarded as opportunities by some but some others get terribly depressed because they are fearful that prices will go even lower.

16.   He added that share buy-backs done through the open market would have a much greater impact on depressed share prices.

17.   However, he said small share purchases through the open market will not have much effect on depressed share prices.

18.   Profit taking and index-linked arbitrage selling depressed share prices on the stock exchange here on Friday.

19.   Selling led by foreign institutions depressed financial shares after their recent gains, he said.