1.   Both companies have recently bolstered their reserves for future losses, indicating that loan loss rates are continuing to rise.

2.   But its customers were among the first to be affected by the economic downturn, and loss rates began to pile up over the summer.

3.   First Chicago, the biggest issuer of gold cards, warned investors last month that its credit-card loss rate would rise.

4.   However, its loss rate has slowed markedly in recent months.

5.   Still, bidders could expect to pay a lower premium if loss rates remain high.

6.   The easiest way to keep earnings from being hurt by the rising loss rates is to swamp them in newer loans.

7.   The increase was mostly related to higher loss rates in Latin America, the company said.

8.   The loss rate is even higher in New England.

9.   The specialty issuers have largely avoided the effects of record personal bankruptcies that have sent credit card loss rates at some banks soaring.

10.   In the past decade, tropical mountain forests experienced faster loss rates than all types of lowland forests.