The company feared it would have limited time to earn back its investment.

That might cause companies to fear loss of revenues.

Now it seeks savings from consolidation, and companies fear being the last one to do a deal.

The company fears hackers will use it to break into computer systems.

Still, high-tech companies fear being left behind, and the market for digital music is sure to grow.

Some companies, for example, fear use of the information by regulators or competitors.

In addition, companies fear that the labor shortage will return once the economy improves.

But even these companies fear a decline in Mexican demand for their products.

Whether that will affect stock prices, as many companies have feared, remains to be seen.

The companies that provide the services would fear that they might sell fewer of them.