Looking back, the executives said they had increased technology spending 6.1 percent over the most recent 12-month period, compared with the previous year.

Yes, earnings do matter, and slowing economic growth does affect technology spending.

She said she was "looking for ways to play corporate technology spending."

Since his promotion almost a year ago, the country has fallen into recession, and companies have cut technology spending.

He thinks the economy is picking up, and with it corporate technology spending.

From the 1960's through the 1990's, technology spending has increased on average by two to three times the rate of economic growth.

Unfortunately, technology spending for 2002 was down, as chief investment officers cut back on their budgets.

The work force was cut about 10 percent, or 16,000 jobs, because of the global downturn in technology spending.

The company is hoping to take advantage of an expected pickup in technology spending.

Throughout the long slump in technology spending, the company's business held up better than most of its rivals.