The deal, valued at $24 billion, has struggled to overcome investor skepticism since it was announced in September.

The investor skepticism may reflect concerns that the planned airline alliances could be undone by pressure from Washington.

And if that is the price of doing business in this era of investor skepticism, executives and analysts said, so be it.

But investor skepticism was reflected by the stock price, which fell 26 cents, to $6.64.

Shares in Vivendi and Seagram have suffered, reflecting investor skepticism about the proposed deal.

The fight, she said, suggested increased investor skepticism of management proposals and also raised questions about how well boards function.

But investor skepticism has been reduced, and if that continues, the stock could improve even more.

Its stock, which traded above $35 early last year, has been sliding ever since, amid investor skepticism of the company's claims about prospects for growth.

But lately he finds himself beset by investor skepticism.

Since then, the company appears to have made improvements in the face of some investor skepticism.