51.   Contributions to flex accounts will probably continue to decline as managed care marches across the country.

52.   Copper producers also declined as the metal dropped.

53.   Comic book sales have steadily declined as computer games and the Internet draw potential readers away.

54.   Cott said it expects these costs to decline as a percentage of sales by the end of the fiscal year.

55.   Computer stocks declined as investors remained concerned that a slowing Asian economy could hurt growth.

56.   Delta Air Lines, which was one of the biggest gainers yesterday, declined as investors fretted over weak traffic predictions for airlines in October.

57.   Demand for new platinum in catalytic converters is declining as carmakers increasingly substitute palladium and recover more platinum from spent catalysts.

58.   Demand for copper is steady, although buying of copper products could decline as the peak period of new U.S. construction activity ends next month.

59.   Cyclical stocks, or those tied closely to the health of the economy, declined as investors braced for lower-than-expected earnings reports.

60.   Drug companies can decline as interest rates rise because investors favor companies more exposed to economic growth, such as oil companies.