11.   The French central bank lowered the ceiling for French money-market rates and left the floor for such rates unchanged.

12.   Although both sides agreed then that money supply ceilings should be lowered, the IMF was pushing for a bigger reduction to keep liquidity from fueling inflation.

13.   But the deputies refused government demands to lower spending ceilings.

14.   Despite protests from companies, the government accepted the proposal, and went ahead to lower the ceiling on compensation.

15.   The debt ceiling would be lowered by an equal amount.

16.   But he said the ceiling could be lowered, if the public would accept it.

17.   The National Assembly, meeting in late night session, also agreed to increase public funding of parties and candidates and to lower the ceiling on allowed expenses.

18.   The CSRC urged futures exchanges to raise security deposits, adjust the upper and lower price limits on contracts, and lower the ceiling on trading positions.