21.  Now they are seen by many, including some leading Western economists, as a wooden stake to halt the Dracula-like speculative attacks on developing country markets.

22.  One persistent rumor, said Ribeiro, was that hedge funds had launched a speculative attack against the Colombian peso.

23.  Prior to the election, some economists suggested an revaluation of the punt to a higher central European rate to quell speculative attacks on the currency.

24.  Ramos said the best defense against speculative attacks is putting in place policies that ensure macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth.

25.  Several burgeoning economies are erecting their own defenses against speculative attacks on their currencies.

26.  Speculative attacks forced Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia to devalue their currencies, bringing a new element to investing in the region.

27.  Still, few expect the franc to come under the sort of severe speculative attack it has endured in the past.

28.  Still, moves by Brazilian officials to double interest rates and raise taxes gave investors confidence the currency, or real, will be successfully defended from speculative attacks.

29.  Still, moves by Brazilian officials to double interest rates and raise taxes gave investors confidence the currency, the real, will withstand speculative attacks.

30.  Still, analysts said Hong Kong would remain vulnerable to speculative attacks as long as its currency traded higher than those of its neighbors.