1.   And on Tuesday, Intel Corp. reported fourth-quarter earnings that fell below expectations as the computer chip maker was hurt by waning demand for personal computers.

2.   Apparel makers have been hurt by more cautious spending by consumers and increasing competition that has led to price cuts.

3.   Competition from Microsoft and others, combined with the ongoing woes of software retailers such as Egghead Inc., will hurt makers of consumer-entertainment software.

4.   Declining prices hurting makers of steel, computers, gasoline, etc.

5.   Exporters slid, as the prospect of a weaker dollar hurt electronics makers like Pioneer and Toshiba and steelmakers like NKK Corp. and Sumitomo Metal Industries.

6.   Holding a strong position in these profitable areas has helped Sharp weather a recession in Japan that has hurt other makers of audio and video equipment.

7.   In particular, the cut-backs from Japanese automakers hurt machine tool makers.

8.   It is the latest semiconductor maker in Asia caught by the slowdown, which has badly hurt chip makers in Korea.

9.   Japanese stocks fell as lingering concern about bad loans weighed on banking shares and signs of a slowdown in demand for computers hurt chip makers.

10.   PC demand has slowed, which has hurt makers of microprocessors.