1.   But people close to Federated said Thursday that its executives were betting that the board would vote against a merger.

2.   Disney executives are also betting that the long-anticipated hockey boom occurs sometime during the new contract.

3.   Still, many auto executives are betting that the industry will eventually consolidate into five or six big companies.

4.   Why do network executives bet against conventional wisdom with lowest-common-denominator programs?

5.   Executives bet a Bush administration and Republican Congress would be less likely to regulate commerce or pursue antitrust litigation.

6.   Executives bet on the rebels.