21.   But the flurry of takeover offers and counteroffers has so far failed to lift railroad stocks, and some analysts say they see bargains.

22.   Confidence that borrowing costs would continue falling lifted stocks in the first six weeks of this year.

23.   Decker said he met with Hindery and found him committed to a stock buyback program that Decker felt would lift the stock.

24.   DUTCH stocks rose as the dollar strengthened, helping to lift international stocks such as Unilever NV and Philips Electronics NV.

25.   Expectations that International Business Machines Corp. will meet or exceed first-quarter earnings forecasts lifted technology stocks in general.

26.   Falling interest rates lifted stocks.

27.   Falling yields, which serve as a proxy for borrowing rates, can lift stocks as company earnings benefit from a lower debt cost.

28.   Funds linked to the government in Taiwan helped lift stocks there from lows, and institutional investors in Singapore began buying after an early selloff by retail investors.

29.   However, the oil-price drop lifted stocks of transportation companies, particularly airlines.

30.   If the economic data support the view that the economy is strong and getting stronger, it could lift stocks because a strong economy translates into higher corporate earnings.