21.   Share prices opened higher following gains in U.S. stocks Friday and on expectations of more active economic rescue efforts by the Japanese government.

22.   Shortly after the GDP figures were released, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi approved preparation of a supplementary budget for an economic rescue.

23.   The budget is expected to contain a range of austerity measures to meet the demands of a multi-billion dollar International Monetary Fund economic rescue package.

24.   The government of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has faced mounting criticism for concentrating its economic rescue efforts on corporations and the rich.

25.   The IMF administers an economic rescue fund.

26.   The International Monetary Fund takes the first steps toward salvaging an economic rescue package for Indonesia on Sunday.

27.   The IMF put together its economic rescue program in October after big falls in the value of the rupiah.

28.   The International Monetary Fund, Japan and other donors were to work out details Monday for an economic rescue plan for Thailand.

29.   The peso opened sharply higher against the U.S. dollar Wednesday, rallying for a second day on optimism over a new U.S.-organized economic rescue package.

30.   The Russian government presented an economic rescue plan during the weekend after weeks of discussion and delay.