1.   Brokers attributed the gain to the announcement of more frequent dividends.

2.   At the same time, brokers also attributed the drop in the Hang Seng to ongoing bickering between Taiwan and China.

3.   Brokers attributed the decline to a lack of foreign investment and sluggish trading in commercial bank shares.

4.   Brokers attributed the decline to normal market trend.

5.   Brokers attributed the decline to selective profit-taking following four straight sessions of gains.

6.   Brokers attributed the drop to the political uncertainty caused by the stalemate in the peace process and to restrictions on trade with Iraqi and Palestinian markets.

7.   Brokers attributed the increase in turnover and the fall in share prices to the rush of investors to buy lucrative shares of industrial firms, commercial banks and institutions.

8.   Brokers attributed the rise in shares to investors buying stocks to prop up their portfolios at the end of the year.

9.   Brokers attributed the rise to a spate of late bargain-hunting following recent sharp falls in the market.

10.   Brokers attributed the rise to bargain-hunting in the banking sector, which rose sharply.