31.  Open access with a larger number of smaller commercial companies would prove very beneficial to customers in ways not possible today.

32.  Also, smaller companies with little history often have a hard time getting loans approved.

33.  American Express, Wal-mart and other large corporations use parallel computers to mine customer records for market trends, and smaller companies want to follow their lead.

34.  Among other things, the study concluded that mergers of equals were less successful than acquisitions of smaller companies.

35.  Among smaller companies, waterfront civil engineering specialist Toa Corp. represents good value, Siman said.

36.  Among technology stocks, smaller companies did about as well as the big ones.

37.  Among the major measures, the government said it plans to set up a new stock exchange to provide access to funds for smaller companies.

38.  An acquisition by a multibrand giant with deep pockets, she said, can give a smaller company the needed capital for expansion.

39.  Among smaller companies, printing press maker Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG said last December it is considering a U.S. listing.

40.  Among smaller companies, the current level of market optimism is more misguided, Ms. Farrell said.