1.   And the steady, predictable stream of profits generated by the dominant local telephone company in the southeastern United States.

2.   Argentine telephone companies Telefonica de Argentina SA and Telecom Argentina Stet-France Telecom SA soared in early trading after the government lowered long-distance prices and raised local rates.

3.   But the emergence of utilities in the rural Internet game is a competitive threat to both cable and telephone companies serving these areas.

4.   Local telephone company US West Inc. and on-line company CompuServe Corp. are basing their new networks on Windows NT, Cole said.

5.   Telephone companies Telefonica de Argentina SA and Telecom Argentina Stet-France Telecom SA both fell, as foreign investors sold shares.

6.   Telephone company Telefonos de Mexico SA and industrial groups Grupo Carso SA and Grupo Alfa SA led the advance.

7.   Telephone companies SBC Communications Inc., U S West communications Group and Alltel Corp. all set records.

8.   Telephone company Telefonos de Mexico SA and financial group Grupo Financiero Bancomer SA paced the decline, the second drop in a row.

9.   Telephone company Telefonos de Mexico SA and financial group Grupo Financiero Bancomer SA paced the decline.

10.   Telephone company Telefonos de Mexico SA and industrial groups Grupo Carso SA and Grupo Alfa SA led the advances.