21.   Also up for bid is a weekend in your home with Lester, the volunteer therapy dog.

22.   American Express Co. said it took its underperforming banking unit off the market because the bids it received were too low.

23.   Although the bids were fairly close, sources said, MedPartners was viewed as able to outbid its smaller rival in the final hour.

24.   Among the takeovers are two bids for retailer Casino SA, by rival Promodes SA and financial holding company Rallye.

25.   American Express Co. said it ended discussions about the proposed sale of its banking unit because the bids it received were too low.

26.   Altogether, the bids are likely to raise much less than previous airwave auctions.

27.   An excessively high minimum price along with the prospect for an increase in competition were cited as key reasons that no bids were forthcoming.

28.   An NCAA tournament bid is an NCAA tournament bid.

29.   Analysts and fund managers say the bid is highly unusual in a market that is considered staid by comparison with the more speculative Malaysian and Indonesian markets.

30.   Analysts said the bid was probably high enough to ward off rivals offers.