1.   A police officer also discounted speculation that the attack was linked to threats against prison staff.

2.   He also discounted speculation about mergers with Credit Suisse First Boston or Banque National de Paris.

3.   He discounted speculation that he is leaving in order to accept a job in the private sector and said he has not yet decided what he will do next.

4.   He and other analysts said they discount that speculation.

5.   He has discounted speculation that he used family wealth to keep his real-estate empire afloat since that race.

6.   McClain also discounted any speculation that former Mayor Emanuel Cleaver might be tapped for the role.

7.   Police officials said they also discounted speculation that the man who had attacked Goldberg was the same man who had attacked Barrett.

8.   Quaker, which is based here, has been rumored in recent months to be a target of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., although Quaker has repeatedly discounted the speculation.

9.   Some analysts discount the speculation.