61. Through this strategy Japanese companies are lowering their costs with cheaper Asian labor, while simultaneously capturing a major share of the fastest-growing market on the planet. 62. Ting says Hewlett Packard products, in particular its computers, which use open rather than proprietary software, allow companies to lower their costs. 63. To the annoyance of some of these customers, the companies are lowering credit lines, imposing fees or raising rates on those who appear to be risky. 64. Wage rebates allow companies to lower their labor costs through taxpayer-financed subsidies. 65. Under the settlement plan, the FDA also would be prevented from requiring tobacco companies to lower nicotine levels without a potentially lengthy legal process. 66. Wall Street experts were waiting to see if the company would lower costs by tapping more outside contractors and continuing efforts to streamline internal operations. 67. A company official, Ignatius Mulyanto, said it was impossible for the company to lower the rental fees during the crisis. 68. Analyst Brostroem said he expects the company to lower its forecast. 69. But financial companies traded lower, most likely on concerns about loan defaults in a slowing economy. 70. But financial companies ended lower, most likely on concerns about loan volume and defaults in a slowing economy. |