61.   Orders from steel, machinery and chemical makers fell the most.

62.   Over the longer term, analysts said companies like chemical maker BorsodChem Rt. also are good buys.

63.   Other chemical makers advanced beside DuPont.

64.   Other companies that could make a bid are German chemical maker BASF AG or Dutch chemical producer Akzo Nobel NV, Gerdeman said.

65.   Overlooked amid the merger waves are higher share prices for pharmaceutical companies and chemical makers in Switzerland, automobiles in France and even textile makers in Austria.

66.   Pacing the advance were economically sensitive shares such as chemical maker DuPont Co., at an all-time high today, and computer maker International Business Machines Corp.

67.   Other gainers in the DAX included dollar-sensitive automakers Volkswagen AG and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, while chemical maker BASF AG also rose.

68.   Production in January and February will be led mainly by transportation, electronics and chemical makers, the ministry said.

69.   Ramco has rights on the field, though other oil companies including Conoco, a unit of the chemical maker DuPont o., also are interested in the field.

70.   Rising oil costs and depressed prices for plastics raw materials hit earnings at other chemical makers.