1.   A dearth of recent new tax-exempt securities sales, along with easing concern about inflation during the past several days, combined to boost demand.

2.   French bankers acknowledged that favorable circumstances combined to boost first-half earnings.

3.   In territories where the companies both have operations, they will be combined to boost their market share.

4.   Natural gas prices also surged, particularly in California, where low storage levels, cold weather and reduced supply combined to boost demand.

5.   The high cost of oil, the American economic boom and the environmental attractiveness of natural gas have all combined to boost demand.

6.   An overnight rise on the New York Stock Exchange and hope for an economic recovery in Japan combined to boost Tokyo share prices.

7.   Meanwhile, an overnight rally on Wall Street and higher futures prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Tuesday combined to boost sentiment on the Tokyo stock market.

8.   On the stock market, the rise on the New York Stock Exchange and hope for an economic recovery in Japan combined to boost prices.

9.   Massive amounts of arbitrage buying and active buybacks combined to boost the key index in the absence of selling pressure, brokers said.