Shutting down a mine and cutting loose workers can be expensive itself, so companies must balance costs of operating versus not operating.

FORBES: Analysts: Too Soon For Platinum Tumble To Hurt Output, But 'Something...To Keep An Eye On'

Just weeks after Intel came clean with its new Pine Trial nettop and netbook platform, the company is today cutting loose with a few more.

ENGADGET: Intel's Arrandale and Clarkdale CPUs get benchmarked for your enjoyment

The chancellor is wary of cutting loose: in Treasury eyes, one of the advantages of the Bank's control of interest rates (handed over by Mr Brown in 1997) is the discipline it exerts on fiscal policy.

ECONOMIST: The fiscal arithmetic

There is also the argument that there would have been an opportunity for one of those hitters to get their eye in before cutting loose, rather than watching Ian Bell fiddle about as only 21 runs were scored from the first six overs.

BBC: Jonathan Agnew column

Instead of cutting Arsenal loose from the pack after its 2-1 victory three weeks ago, it let the Gunners right back into the conversation.

WSJ: Focus Is on United's Slipstream

By cutting them loose now, Nortel is not only distancing itself from its past, but reducing the chances that any civil or criminal indictments will be directed at the company.

FORBES: Nortel: Nowhere To Go But Up

The goal involved two of the game's most impressive performers, with full-back Pranjic racing onto a loose ball on the edge of the Poland area before cutting a pass back to Klasnic, who slotted home first time low to Boruc's left.

CNN: Klasnic goal maintains Croatia record

Munster, however, picked up where they left off as Dominic Crotty intercepted a loose Swansea pass on his own 22 and raced up-field, cutting inside last man Thomas to touch down for his side's second try of the night.

BBC: Swansea fly-half Arwel Thomas