1.   Any improving school is likely to have stagnant scores in some years, offset by gains in others.

2.   But a surprising benefit to the prolonged economic prosperity, economists say, is that productivity gains have offset much of the need to raise prices dramatically.

3.   But those losses were partly offset by gains in Microsoft, Intel and IBM.

4.   Colombian stocks were little changed as concern about possible U.S. trade sanctions were offset by gains by Bavaria SA, which is about to pay a divided.

5.   Colombian stocks were mixed as the perception that shares such as Bavaria SA were overpriced was offset by gains in other shares deemed inexpensive.

6.   Colombian stocks were little changed as concern about possible U.S. trade sanctions were offset by gains by Bavaria SA, before the company pays a dividend.

7.   Colombian stocks were little changed as concern over a government strike was offset by gains by brewer Bavaria.

8.   CZECH stocks were little changed as declines in Komercni Banka AS and utility CEZ AS were offset by gains in SPT Telecom and confectioner Cokoladovny AS.

9.   Declines by Exxon Corp. and other oil stocks were offset by gains by computer-related shares including Applied Materials Inc.

10.   Declines in Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. and oil refiner Petron Corp. were offset by gains in San Miguel Corp. and mall developer SM Prime Holdings Inc.