1.   But it is not likely to damage confidence in American stocks.

2.   Whether the turmoil in Indonesia will further damage investor confidence in the fragile economies of Thailand, South Korea, and Malaysia is unclear.

3.   Yet the administration is also starting to worry that all its war planning damages consumer confidence, which many economists believe has dropped sharply from already depressed levels.

4.   Higher interest rates and lower stock prices also would severely damage public confidence and hit the pockets of many Hong Kong people who have property mortgages and stock investments.