Like wrestlers, they were struggling for new holds, Kelk's strength offset by Verne's elusiveness.

These strengths are offsetting a 50 percent drop in orders for truck engines, and a marked slowdown in demand for construction equipment so far this year.

To bulls on the stock market, the economic strength and outlook for rising profits more than offset the risk of higher interest rates.

Usually, executives say, strength in one of these businesses had offset weakness in another.

"The stage was set for a bad day, but then strength in technology offset it," said Thomas M. Galvin, chief investment officer at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

They believed that strength in one chip market would offset a downturn in another.

The data on durable goods were a mixed bag, with the strength in military and civilian aircraft offsetting the drag from motor vehicles.

But the law had gained an ally whose strength could offset a score of foemen.

According to Kirchoff, "we assumed that our strengths and weaknesses would offset each other.

The company reported a 25 percent rise in operating profit, as strength in Cegetel, a rival to France Télécom, offset weak performances in its American entertainment businesses.