1.   A new poll shows the approval rating for Congress is nearing record lows.

2.   Interest rates are down to near record lows, which would seem to promote sales, since borrowers have to pay less for money to make an acquisition.

3.   Their renewed interest in bonds gave other investors confidence the rally that has driven bond yields to near record lows can continue.

4.   In London, the lira stabilized after slipping to near record lows against the German mark.

5.   Brokers said share prices were pushed to near their lows by the close, with lacklustre demand exacerbating the decline.

6.   The arrests threaten to further damage Sino-US relations, which neared crisis lows last summer and have failed to fully recover since.