41.   Per-share earnings increases at many banks were fueled by repurchases of stock, analysts said.

42.   Pepsi Bottling announced on Friday that volume declines as a result of price increases at the retail level earlier this year were less drastic than expected.

43.   Rep. Major Owens, a Brooklyn Democrat, also laid blame for the fare increase at the feet of Giuliani and Pataki.

44.   Sales of Japanese brands were expected to increase at a slower rate in April, in part because Honda Accord and Toyota Camry had limited supplies.

45.   She did not know how the increase at Testa, Hurwitz would affect associates at her firm.

46.   Similarly, efforts by states to reduce their Medicaid costs may result in increases at the federal level.

47.   Since announcing plans to upgrade its popular Windows software program, Microsoft has become a catalyst for stock increases at many personal computer and software companies.

48.   Should the number of employed increase at a time wages are on the rise, it could rekindle concern that inflation is on the rise.

49.   Some analysts expect the Federal Reserve to raise U.S. rates later this year, after refraining from an increase at its policy meeting Tuesday.

50.   Such valuations and price-to-earnings ratios imply that investors are expecting profits at equipment makers to continue to increase at high rates for several more years.