61.   The benchmark Nikkei gave back early gains in afternoon trading, however, after electronics giant forecast NEC Corp. announced a downward earning revision.

62.   The downward revision, which surprised analysts, was due to a slower buildup in business inventories.

63.   The downward GDP revision for the third quarter reflected a bigger trade deficit than previously estimated, reflecting weaker export sales.

64.   The downward revision came after the German government last month slashed its economic growth forecast blaming the global slowdown.

65.   The downward revision of estimated tax revenues is due to higher costs for jobless benefits and weak economic growth, the ministry said.

66.   The downward revision reflected the fact that the government dramatically lowered its estimate of for the gross domestic product.

67.   The government attributed the downward revision to a higher trade deficit than originally estimated and less production going into business stockpiles.

68.   The labor market data come on the heels of a downward revision to estimates for French economic growth.

69.   The upward revision took Tokyo financial markets by surprise, as many players had been expecting, if anything, a downward revision, analysts said.

70.   They gave no reason for the downward revision, but said there was no hope of finding more survivors.