51.   The fund provides a hedge against inflation and declining financial markets by buying commodity-linked investments.

52.   The Learning Co. publishes consumer education software and has suffered in recent months from flat earnings and declining market share.

53.   The new conversions are looked upon as the last chapter in the workout of residential real estate that was overpriced and overvalued in a declining market.

54.   The price-weighted index, which tracks shares of companies with operations in the state, advanced against a generally declining market.

55.   Their tenacity surprised some money managers, who had predicted individuals would sell shares in a declining market, magnifying the downward spiral for all.

56.   These companies fared well in a declining overall market.

57.   They later pared some of their gains in a declining market.

58.   They said they had interested two potential investors in joining a partnership, but that the investors balked after examining the declining advertising market.

59.   U.S. stocks also fell as declining European markets cast a pall over stock investing across the Atlantic.

60.   U.S. stocks were mixed as declining overseas markets revived concern that slower economic growth outside the U.S. could undermine corporate profits here.