11.   Banks are merging everywhere, largely to reduce competition by closing branches in the same neighborhoods.

12.   Both men have denied the charges, accusing Ramirez of working to reduce competition for candidates endorsed by the organization.

13.   A First Union-Wachovia deal would reduce competition and lead to substantial layoffs and branch closings in the state.

14.   A Union Pacific-Santa Fe merger would reduce rail competition in California by cutting the number of railroads from three to two.

15.   Acquiring other players lets them spread administrative costs and reduce competition.

16.   Also, the weaker yen will raise the price of some imports, including reverse imports from Japanese factories abroad, reducing competition with domestic goods.

17.   But antitrust authorities basically take a snapshot of a horizontal market for a given product and then look at whether a merger would explicitly reduce competition in that market.

18.   But it has looked only at economic issues, chiefly whether mergers would reduce competition.

19.   But opponents told a Senate Governmental Affairs subcommittee that the merger would reduce competition, eventually leading to higher prices and diminished service.

20.   But the administration has not taken a position because Justice Department lawyers voiced fears that lowering anti-trust protections might reduce competition.