1.   Analysts were at a loss to explain why the company is merely treading water when commercial insurance prices are recovering from a long slump.

2.   But with memories of Soviet domination still fresh, Russian companies are treading softly.

3.   Scandalios said his company would nevertheless tread lightly in deciding whether to rename any of its nine theaters.

4.   The Empire East executive added, however, that the company would still tread very carefully to avoid overextending itself.