The retailer's bid to open in Japan is seen as a test of American retailers' ability to enter the Japanese market.

The high and low bids were further apart than usually seen at the auction, suggesting that investors were hesitant to buy.

Because of its timing, the teamsters' bid was widely seen here as an attempt to blunt the threat of a Government takeover.

Even so, a serious bid for Gannett, which has market capitalization of $13.62 billion, is seen as unlikely.

This was confirmed, as the private shipyards' bids were seen as grossly inflated.

But the bid was also widely seen as another move in an intricate duel over control involving partners on both sides of the deal.

The bid was seen as far from a sure thing.

Hungary's extraordinary, doomed bid for freedom is seen mostly from inside the Budapest apartment of one family.

Such bids are usually seen as a good proxy of small investor demand for securities.

The bids for Rowntree may be seen as part of a growing trend towards globalisation in world markets.