41.   Housing companies may see slower sales because of the rise in mortgage costs.

42.   In recent months, manufacturers have added workers even with slower domestic sales because many exporters were able to ship overseas, where demand remained strong.

43.   In the U.S. food division, a strong performance of its ice-cream business -- which carries high margins -- offset slower sales to supermarkets.

44.   Investors are concerned that slower sales of firearms and golf-club heads will reduce earnings.

45.   Its warning of slower sales in January wiped more than a third from its market value.

46.   Its profit is expected to increase slightly from a year ago, amid slower sales in cellular phone equipment.

47.   Japanese orders for industrial machinery rose for the first time in three months as companies boosted exports of machinery to offset slower sales at home.

48.   Manufacturers, especially automobile, steel and machine makers, boosted exports to compensate for slower sales at home.

49.   Manila Electric, whose performance is closely tied to growth, could see slower sales if the economy decelerates.

50.   Manufacturers slashed workers for the first time in six months as they aim to cut costs in the wake of slower domestic sales.