In February, the company had assured analysts that the valuation was reasonable.

Nevertheless, the charge appeared to assure analysts that he would be as serious about reducing expenses as was his hard-charging predecessor.

Santa has assured analysts that wish-list processing and Christmas Eve delivery will meet or exceed traditional standards of quality and reliability.

But the company needs several more hit movies quickly if it is to assure its survival, studio executives and financial analysts say.

Although Wells Fargo has been an active lender for both real estate and leveraged buyouts, its management continues to assure analysts that problems are not building.

Satellites routinely surveyed the Soviet Union, assuring American analysts that Soviet military assets were finite, known and at rest.

But Mr. Bryant assured analysts on a conference call that the inventory glut was minor and that the company would soon have it in balance.

But Intel said inventories were still lower than it wanted and declined to assure analysts that supplies would come into balance with demand before the end of the year.

But Mr. Weill assured analysts yesterday that he was confident the bank would deliver strong results.

The British company, the world's largest marketer and refiner of platinum, hopes to assure investors and analysts that platinum demand will outstrip supplies for several years.