1.   Analysts and dealers attributed the gains in smaller companies to speculation about mergers and acquisitions, that are unlikely to happen.

2.   Analysts attributed the gains at discounters and specialty chains to efforts by those companies to focus on a core customer group or product category.

3.   Analysts attributed those gains to the popularity of index funds.

4.   Analysts attributed the gain to takeover speculation.

5.   Analysts attributed gains at big chains like May Department Stores, Dillard Department Stores and Federated Department Stores in large part to a rise in apparel sales.

6.   Analysts attributed the gain to takeover speculation and rising prices in Hong Kong bank stocks, against which Standard Chartered is often compared.

7.   Analysts attributed the gains at discounters and specialty chains to efforts to focus on a core customer group or product category.

8.   Analysts attributed the gains to optimism about first-quarter earnings at most airlines.

9.   Biovail attributed the gain to improved sales of Tiazac, its once-a-day heart drug.