1.   Gains in bonds encouraged optimism that interest rates will keep fall, helping profits later this year.

2.   Investors in Japan may also be encouraged by gains in U.S. stocks, traders said.

3.   Investors were also encouraged by gains in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand stocks, after U.S. stocks rose last Friday.

4.   Some investors were also encouraged by gains in stock markets across the Asia-Pacific region.

5.   Peso buying was encouraged by gains in the Thai baht and by Manila finally exiting from an extended borrowing program with the International Monetary Fund.

6.   Overnight gains on Wall Street encouraged buying of Japanese technology stocks, keeping the market higher most of the day.

7.   Japanese stock prices surged higher Thursday as a stronger dollar and further gains on Wall Street encouraged investors.

8.   Japanese stock prices surged higher Thursday morning as a stronger dollar and further gains on Wall Street encouraged investors.

9.   On the stock market, the Nikkei moved as investors bought selected issues on dip, encouraged by gains overnight on Wall Street.

10.   On the stock market, the blue-chip Nikkei index rose as investors were encouraged by gains by U.S. stocks overnight.