1.   Sons, lowered their ratings on the stock because of slower-than-expected growth at new stores.

2.   And analysts have lowered their ratings on dollar-sensitive sectors like chemicals, automobiles and machinery.

3.   Analyst Robert Ottenstein recently lowered his rating of the West Lafayette-based specialty chemical manufacturer.

4.   Analysts at Dean Witter Reynolds, Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley lowered their ratings on the stock.

5.   And whether Gingrich can lower his unusually high negative ratings from voters is also an open question.

6.   Another agency, Fitch, lowered its ratings of Japanese sovereign debt to AA-plus in September.

7.   As a result of the investigation, three Austin schools had their ratings lowered, one administrator was suspended and another was reprimanded.

8.   As a result, some analysts are lowering their ratings.

9.   At least two financial analysts lowered their ratings today on the Cupertino, California midrange computer maker.

10.   Baum, who had upgraded several retail stocks in November in anticipation of a strong February, lowered several ratings Thursday.