21.   Meanwhile, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and Metro Pacific Corp. tumbled after their groups lost out in the government auction yesterday for the utility contracts.

22.   Meriwether was the vice chairman and head bond trader at Salomon until he was forced to resign after the firm admitted placing false bids in government bond auctions.

23.   NextWave was the biggest bidder in a U.S. government auction of cellular licenses, the largest auction in history, and helped drive up prices with its aggressive bidding.

24.   On financial markets today, government bonds fell as investors awaited the first of three days of quarterly government securities auctions.

25.   Paxson also hopes Powell will speed government auctions for frequencies now occupied by analog versions of Pax TV and other broadcasters.

26.   Prices of Treasury securities dropped moderately Tuesday, after a disappointing government auction of new two-year notes.

27.   Prices of Treasury securities were up sharply Wednesday, lifted by a successful government note auction and steep losses in the stock market.

28.   Properties also rose, ahead of a government land auction on Wednesday.

29.   Prices of Treasury securities sagged, weighed down by strong economic data and a disappointing government auction of new inflation-indexed securities.

30.   SPANISH bond yields fell to a two-month low amid strong demand at two government debt auctions and gains across all major European credit markets.