1.   After a year of declining prices, stiff competition and slim profits, European steelmakers are expecting better times -- as their share prices already are predicting.

2.   Gains were muted as a rising dollar hurt shares of automakers amid concern that stiff competition from outside the U.S. would hamper sales.

3.   He also warned that the faces stiff competition from manufacturers and other re-sellers that are much larger than Egghead and enjoy greater economies of scale.

4.   In addition, satellite dishes the size of a pizza already are providing stiff competition for cable TV, in the Bay Area and elsewhere.

5.   Stiff competition, be they among banks or insurance companies is a double-edged sword.