1.   Higher rates would buoy the yen by luring global investors to some yen assets.

2.   Higher rates would buoy the yen by making deposits and bonds denominated in it more alluring.

3.   Higher U.S. rates would buoy the dollar by making dollar-denominated deposits more attractive to investors, prompting them to buy dollars.

4.   Lower German rates may buoy the dollar against the deutsche mark, making dollar-denominated securities more attractive, say traders.

5.   Lower U.S. rates often buoy U.S. bonds by indicating little sign of accelerating inflation, which erodes the value of fixed-income assets, such as bonds.

6.   Lower rates often buoy the dollar by making mark-denominated deposits less attractive.

7.   A steadier Hong Kong interbank overnight rate buoyed the market.