1.   Although that decline has made imports more expensive, the reluctance of German consumers to spend money has kept companies from passing on those higher costs.

2.   But experts concede that a long-running decline makes it harder to hang onto stocks.

3.   For Argentine companies, the decline in rates makes their shares more attractive, as corporate borrowing and debt payments both become cheaper.

4.   In addition, he believes that the recent decline has made stock prices attractive again.

5.   In Venezuela, a decline in interest rates made stocks relatively more attractive than bank deposits and similar investments.

6.   Shaw Bridges, analyst with Merrill Lynch in London, said the decline is making Akzo Nobel shares worth buying again.

7.   Taiwan stocks rose for the first time in five days as recent declines have made United Microelectronics Corp. and other technology companies better value.

8.   That comparatively small decline makes Netscape a winner of sorts.

9.   The decline will make it harder for companies, particularly small ones, to raise money for exploration projects, analysts said.

10.   The decline made Venezuelan equities among the cheapest in the region in light of their earnings prospects.