21.   U.S. banks continue to toughen standards for consumer loans, including credit cards, while offering easier terms to businesses, the Federal Reserve said today.

22.   U.S. consumers borrowed at a slower pace in February as banks toughened their standards for new loans, Federal Reserve figures showed today.

23.   U.S. consumers borrowed at a slower pace in February as banks toughened their standards for new loans, Federal Reserve figures showed.

24.   Winkler said the hoax had caused Bloomberg to toughen its standards on using information from press releases, even those from PR Newswire and Business Wire.

25.   The government vowed Tuesday to reform the troubled Finance Ministry and toughen ethical standards after two high-ranking ministry officials were arrested on bribery charges.

26.   The security initiative is the final component in draft anti-terrorist legislation that toughens standards nationwide.