1.   Canadian government bonds fell amid fading optimism that the White House and Republican lawmakers are near agreement on how to balance the U.S. budget.

2.   Chilean stocks were mixed as fading optimism for a rate cut overshadowed gains in the local telephone company sparked by its expansion abroad.

3.   Fading optimism about an interest rate cut this month also weighed on the market, Salcedo said.

4.   SPANISH bonds erased earlier losses as fading optimism over a new government was offset by gains in U.S. Treasury bonds.

5.   That signals fading optimism among U.S. consumers, Strathy said.

6.   Despite fading optimism, crews continue to carry away rubble in buckets and by hand in the search for survivors and bodies.