31.   The scheme allows banks to lower intermediation costs by allowing them to earn more from market-yielding government securities.

32.   Traders said comments by a Japanese government official on possible yen support intervention caused banks to lower their offer rates for the dollar.

33.   Banks closed sharply lower as foreigners sold financials in line with their weak US counterparts.

34.   They said the market was eagerly waiting for the Bundesbank meeting on Thursday, but was divided on whether the bank would lower rates.

35.   This is the third time in five weeks that the bank has lowered the discount rate.

36.   Some banks have already lowered their home loan rates in anticipation of a cut.

37.   Some analysts think the bank will lower rates in late April, but the more pessimistic think no such move will come until the second half of the year.

38.   Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Komura said he hoped the bank would lower its official discount rate and other rates to ease upward pressure on the yen.

39.   The bank also lowered cheque, passbook deposit and passbook savings accounts reserve requirements and cut the deposit on time deposit and time savings accounts.