1.   The west German state airline Lufthansa had reportedly presented various purchase plans but had faced opposition from the Federal Cartel Office.

2.   And a good way to do that is through direct stock purchase plans.

3.   AMR has said it is looking at planes made by Bombardier and Embraer, but it has not yet announced purchase plans.

4.   A federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled recently that the workers were, indeed, eligible for benefits, such as savings and stock purchase plans.

5.   AirTouch has an employee stock purchase plan for its rank-and-file, too.

6.   But Japan has said such purchase plans are a matter for the private sector and has refused to talk about it in the discussions between the two governments.

7.   But savvy investors may do better by transferring their stock to a broker outside the system, especially with stock purchase plans.

8.   Companies like the direct purchase plans for a couple reasons.

9.   Company contributions to health insurance, life insurance, pension and stock purchase plans continue to ratchet upward.

10.   Direct purchase plans give you the option of reinvesting your dividends, which is a must for DRIPs.