But industry executives speculated that the firm might be forced to shut them.

Neither immigration officials nor executives for the airline would speculate on what the outcome of the appeal might be.

But confusion over the correct day to display the title could have made those early numbers less predictive, some industry executives speculated.

For years - beginning in 1989, in fact - I had heard executives, scouts and players speculate about steroid use.

But some industry executives speculate that one practice apparently under the spotlight was so-called minimal advertised pricing.

And several industry executives speculated about the longer-term impact on Los Angeles, which has long been where nearly all television shows are produced.

Given those parameters, some executives and agents speculated on a list of suitors for Griffey.

Mr. Galleberg declined to give specifics, but retail executives speculate that it could be 20 percent.

Several executives also speculated that Ms. DeGeneres's personal life may have played a part in the ratings.

And one executive from the West Coast team speculated: "If this is a true signing, maybe that will break the ice, the logjam."