41.   He said that he believes he can reach that goal without a merger but that the search for cost reductions had made consolidation more attractive.

42.   In addition to cost reductions from eliminating overlapping operations in California, increased size will give Fremont better leverage in talks with medical service providers, he said.

43.   In these behind-the-scenes negotiations, City Hall seeks sharp cost reductions, tighter accountability and safeguards against another service rupture.

44.   Investors on the Paris stock exchange, evidently judging the premium Total offered out of line with the potential for cost reductions, reacted skeptically.

45.   Investors, after a euphoric reaction when the deal was announced, have been pounding the shares of both banks, in part because of uncertainty over cost reductions.

46.   Meanwhile, trading margins are expected to improve, after cost reductions last year.

47.   Nokia announced capacity and cost reductions last month to try to save the troubled division.

48.   North American truck sales and cost reductions helped it overcome losses in South America and Europe.

49.   One likely cost reduction, de la Martiniere said, will come at the headquarters of Guardian Royal.

50.   Piech predicted that the company could continue to increase profits despite the weak market, and he vowed to do so with cost reductions that he did not enumerate.