David Bear, a spokesman for Diebold, said, "We're going to meet whatever needs our customers or regulators call for."

Federal regulators look at equity and the loan-loss reserves together and call it primary capital.

In addition to abusive sales practices, the states' regulatory sweep of small firms turned up what some regulators call an alarming new trend: franchise boiler rooms.

And as soon as one shut down, another would spring up, in what regulators call the "blob of mercury" problem.

But many plant employees and Federal regulators call the operation generally clean and well run.

Many French and foreign regulators call upon her to draw up reports and studies.

A federal regulator called the amounts in the case "staggering."

Another problem is what regulators call a "pump and dump."

The country's top financial regulator, Lee Keun-young, called for a review to determine the legality of the revision.

And California officials took steps to end what regulators have called misleading practices by insurance brokers.