51.   Economists predicted the sharp deterioration in trade in March would force a big downward revision in the gross domestic product for the January-March quarter.

52.   Economists were expecting a downward revision to productivity because the economy also had grown far more slowly in the second quarter than the government had initially thought.

53.   Haseko attributed its large-scale downward revision to non-operating losses arising from sales of commercial real estate.

54.   In addition to the slower sales of Vioxx, the company also cited adverse impact from foreign exchange as a factor prompting the downward revision.

55.   In Paris, advertising industry watcher Zenith Media announced a downward revision in its advertising growth estimate.

56.   Investors, bombarded in recent weeks by high-tech companies giving downward revisions, have so far shrugged off the news.

57.   It gave back early gains in afternoon trading, however, after electronics giant forecast NEC Corp. announced a downward earning revision.

58.   On the flip side, General Motors is reaffirming its earlier guidance for sales and profits despite a recent downward revision from analysts.

59.   Sakaiya was also to submit a downward revision of the EPA forecast for Japanese gross domestic product growth this fiscal year to a Cabinet meeting next Tuesday.

60.   Some analysts said the size of the downward revision was bigger than anticipated.