31.   Analysts said the gains reflected buying by traders to cover bets that stocks would fall further rather than any improvement in investor confidence.

32.   Analysts said the gains reflected buying by traders to cover bets that stocks would fall further, rather than any improvement in investor confidence.

33.   Analysts said the gains reflected the easing of the upward pressure on crude oil prices.

34.   Batelco said the gains reflected a higher demand for its services, including mobile telephones and internet accounts from customers.

35.   Both big gains reflected the impact of huge court settlements in tobacco liability cases.

36.   Economists said the income gains reflect steady wage increases stemming from tight labor markets favoring job seekers.

37.   Many economists insisted that these gains reflected a rebound from an unusually good performance but not the start of an inflationary spiral.

38.   Other gains reflected more company-specific news.

39.   The Commerce Department said Thursday the modest income gain reflected the fact that big farm subsidies and bonuses for auto workers were handed out in March.

40.   The gain in November reflected in part a higher foreign oil bill and more imports of autos.