91.   Weak Japanese stocks also helped bonds, said Akitsugu Bando, a portfolio manager at Okasan Capital Management Co.

92.   While a possible delay in the package helped bonds, it weighed on stocks, traders said.

93.   With such strong growth the Federal Reserve is considered less likely to lower rates, a move many analysts say would help bonds.

94.   The data might have helped bonds by raising hopes that the central bank would soon push interest rates lower in a bid to restimulate the economy.

95.   The home-sales data could have helped bonds, which typically rise on anemic economic data.

96.   At the Nomura Research Institute in London analyst Alison Southey said the stability of US treasuries overnight had helped European bonds which in turn had helped equities.