31.   Closely related to the sharks are the rays.

32.   Ricardo Rosa, an ichthyologist of the Federal University in the northeastern state of Paraiba, said the ray is a docile fish that lives near coral reefs.

33.   Against that sombre backdrop, the sole ray of hope is the recent decision by Hamas to suspend its suicide attacks.

34.   But there have been some rays of light on the corporate earnings front.

35.   But there were rays of hope generated at the meeting, particularly over the drug AZT, which has shown promising results in France and the United States.

36.   There were few rays of sunshine from US equity markets either.