1.   As it was, improved profitability and fulfilled expectations of rising sales led to an expansion of investment.

2.   Analysts say Toyota and competitor Honda Motor Co. will beat their own earnings projections because of rising sales and windfall profits from the weak yen.

3.   Analysts say Toyota and Honda will beat their own earnings projections because of rising sales and windfall profits from the weak yen.

4.   BAT, which makes Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes, said results benefited from higher prices in the United States and rising sales in Europe and Asia.

5.   Behind the booming sales, most industry experts agree, are the falling prices and rising sales of big-screen television.

6.   Behind the booming sales, most industry experts agree, are the falling prices and rising sales of big-screen televisions.

7.   BMW said it would dismiss Mullen Advertising from the creative portion of the account despite rising American sales for BMW.

8.   A separate report showed that inventories of goods at businesses increased in July for the seventh consecutive month as rising sales encouraged companies to restock.

9.   A survey of purchasing managers, issued Thursday, reinforced reports of strong consumer confidence and rising home sales earlier in the week.

10.   After more than a decade of steadily rising sales, minivan sales are falling.