71.   A lack of fresh news also discouraged investors from buying.

72.   A sharp overnight decline on Wall Street also discouraged Japanese investors, traders said.

73.   A sharp overnight drop on Wall Street also discouraged investors, traders said.

74.   A widening payoff scandal also continued to discourage many investors.

75.   A widening payoff scandal in Japan also continued to discourage many investors ahead of the weekend, traders said.

76.   All of this has discouraged investors and tarnished one of the oldest democracies on the continent.

77.   Also discouraging investors was pessimism about the earnings outlook for major Japanese manufacturers.

78.   Also discouraging investors was pessimism about the earnings outlook for corporate Japan.

79.   Analysts said investors also were discouraged by separate reports that several large companies are in financial trouble.

80.   An overnight fall on Wall Street also discouraged some investors, they said.