41.   There was no speculation as to when the justice might return to her court chambers.

42.   Hong Kong is agog with speculation as to whether the architect of the handover, Chinese patriarch Deng Xiaoping, will come to Hong Kong for the handover ceremony.

43.   But other market experts dismiss such speculation as baseless.

44.   But the United Nations dampened speculation as to an early agreement, warning that the negotiating process could be long.

45.   The parliamentary elections had long been predicted for March and there has been continuing speculations as to whether Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez will seek another term.

46.   The statement triggered a flurry of speculation as to whether nuclear tests would restart.

47.   The security forces have also foiled several recent attacks, provoking speculation as to whether the IRA was fully committed to a return to violence.

48.   There had been speculation as to whether she would hold off her decision until the world championships next year at Val Di Fiemme in Italy.

49.   Speculation as to its content, including that it might contain the missing murder weapon, has continued ever since.

50.   The exit poll findings sparked a bout of speculation as to whether the Congress or the BJP would be better placed to form a government in a hung parliament.