1.   At the time, the group said it would soon put together a plan to overhaul its aerospace group, which has been a major drag on earnings.

2.   Additionally, the strike against General Motors Corp. will be a major drag on heavy industry, Thompson said.

3.   Personal computer demand is rebounding, analysts said, and that had been the other major drag on the ratio.

4.   The strong yen raises the price of Japanese exports, a major drag on the economy.

5.   Vanderheiden has whittled down his bond holdings over the years, but they remain a major drag on performance.

6.   In coming decades, an increase in the elderly population and a decrease in the working-age population are expected to be a major drag on the economy.

7.   The banking sector is the biggest in Europe and any weakness is a major drag on the European bourses, analysts said.