21.   Investor sentiment was depressed by worries that US share prices have further to fall before the current correction on Wall Street has run its course, a broker said.

22.   A downbeat outlook on Japan from the IMF also depressed buying sentiment, dealers said.

23.   A rise in the dollar and persistent pessimism among investors with regard to the precious metal depressed market sentiment.

24.   Although sentiment is still depressed by the prospect of a large harvest in South America, prices were lifted by some better than expected export statistics.

25.   Arbitrage-linked selling also continued depressing market sentiment, although futures-linked buying recouped some of the earlier losses near the close, brokers said.

26.   Brokers said the early firmness of some blue chips failed to encourage buying in the broader market as sentiment was depressed by the ongoing weakness of Wall Street.

27.   Cotton prices turned higher in largely technical trading, though the overall supply overhang continues to depress sentiment.

28.   Disappointment over a lack of government reforms also depressed buying sentiment, they added.

29.   Dealers in Paris did not expect the Bundesbank to reduce its key interest rates on Thursday and sentiment was depressed by a gloomy political and labour climate in France.

30.   The Worldcom scandal, reawakening concerns over the integrity of US accountancy practices in the wake of the Enron collapse, depressed sentiment in telecoms stocks.