1.   Also, the fall of the Japanese yen against the dollar in the last year has bolstered the profits of export-oriented companies like NEC.

2.   American businesses have steadily increased productivity in recent years -- through automation, layoffs and corporate streamlining -- to bolster their profits.

3.   Analysts are raising their ratings on Schwab stock, saying price increases will help bolster profits.

4.   As Westlake-based NetZero and Juno combine their assets to bolster profits, both companies have some room to make up.

5.   Because Intel can quickly fine-tune manufacturing at its new, highly automated chip factories, selected price cuts that seem aggressive are likely to bolster profits.

6.   Bic takes what it calls its employee-involvement program very seriously, viewing it as a way to spur workplace morale and productivity and ultimately bolster corporate profits.

7.   A stronger dollar bolsters their profits by allowing them to lower their prices abroad.

8.   Abbott executives are cautious of their need to bolster their profits.

9.   Additionally, worker shortages in many industries could erase some of the productivity gains, which bolstered business profits, analysts said.

10.   Alaska Air Group shares also rose this week as investors bet that the economy is still strong enough to bolster airline profits.