11.   During that break, U.S. shares fell as concern spread that U.S. interest rates will rise further and squeeze corporate earnings.

12.   Higher U.S. rates hurt stocks by making it more costly for companies to borrow and squeezing earnings.

13.   Hong Kong stocks fell for the first time in seven days on concern interest rates may head higher and squeeze corporate earnings.

14.   Higher interest rates attract money to bonds from stocks and squeeze corporate earnings.

15.   It also comes as the U.K. telecommunications regulator plans to toughen rules governing BT in Britain, squeezing earnings as domestic competition increases.

16.   Narrower lending margins could squeeze earnings even more.

17.   Since many large companies do more than half their business outside the United States, a strong greenback squeezes earnings, a big driver of stock prices.

18.   That will raise borrowing costs for banks and developers, squeezing earnings.

19.   The cut will make it more expensive for companies to borrow overseas, further squeezing their earnings as the currency weakens and the economy slows.

20.   The German economic climate will continue to squeeze earnings, Kopper said.