1.   It is the autonomous nature of sole trading which is an attractive feature of this form of business enterprise.

2.   Also helping boost the U.S. currency in late Tokyo trading were comments from Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka.

3.   Other Japanese trading companies were also expanding, but Sumitomo was more aggressive, perhaps because it could take comfort in its large, captive clients.

4.   For barter trading to be effective, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia would have to try and balance its imports and exports with its trading partners.

5.   The dollar was lower due to limited speculative Japanese selling, but traders said they expected dollar-yen trading to be range-bound in Asia Monday.

6.   Leading real estate, construction and some other large-capitalisation issues which had led the gains in recent trading were the main shares sold, brokers said.