This is believed to have weighed heavily in Panasonic's decision to move its European headquarters to Amsterdam.
Mr. Sarkozy has no formal role within the U.M.P. but is widely believed to be weighing a 2017 presidential run, and has sought to remain neutral.
Houllier is also believed to be weighing up a move for the Cameroon international midfielder Jean Makoun, who plays for the Villa manager's former club Lyon.
Benedict, when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, watched as his predecessor and close collaborator, John Paul, grew increasingly infirm in the final years of his papacy, an experience believed to have weighed on Benedict's decision.
Instead, the state-backed lender is believed to be weighing up plans to move its model to return on risk-weighted assets or risk-adjusted return on equity, which strips the flattering affect of leverage out of performance.
It also illustrates how potential candidates willing to be creative with the nation's Rube Goldberg-like campaign finance system can manipulate it to their greatest benefit — and Mr. Romney has been by far the most assertive in this approach among those believed to be weighing bids for the Republican nomination.
Its concrete entrance at ground level was barely large enough for a burly man like Mr. Hussein, who is close to 6 feet tall and was believed to have weighed about 200 pounds before he went on the run, to squeeze through.
The release of a few choice morsels on Monday, in which Mr. Huckabee dug in anew at Mr. Romney, spurring a back and forth between the opposing camps -- both men are believed to be weighing another run in 2012 -- reminiscent of those bright, shiny days from a year ago.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is believed to be weighing Kaine among a handful of other potential VP choices.
