71.   The presidential flip-flop added an element of political uncertainty to a domestic market already reeling from negative sentiment.

72.   News Corp was hit by negative sentiment about the sustainability of the recovery in the United States, where the company generates more than three quarters of its revenue.

73.   Negative sentiment in the futures market also weighed on the bourse, with heavyweight stocks losing ground to lead the benchmark index lower, dealers said.

74.   Negative sentiment was reinforced by concerns about severe profits problems for several important stocks, including Ford and Kmart.

75.   Negative sentiment was sustained by weakness in speculative stocks and growing concerns over near-term demand and supply conditions.

76.   On the other hand, Japan may see a slow recovery in its economy, helping to reduce strongly negative sentiment on yen assets.

77.   Pension funds sporadically bought leading shares but failed to reverse an underlying negative sentiment, he said.

78.   Shares closed morning trading off their lows, as continued negative sentiment was partly offset by speculative interest in some second-line stocks, dealers said.

79.   The baht exchange rate and attacks on the currency in the Singapore market were the main reasons for negative sentiment in the Thai market, he said.

80.   The dollar was being supported by concern over intervention by the Bank of Japan, despite continued negative sentiment towards US assets, dealers said.