11.   Concern that escalating political tensions in West Africa could spill over to the Ivory Coast and Ghana, disrupting harvests and transportation, also buoyed prices.

12.   Crude prices have been buoyed all year by lean inventories and robust demand around the world.

13.   Declining U.S. interest rates also buoyed prices, traders said.

14.   Even then, they said, the fact that stocks are so far behind last year could help buoy prices.

15.   Either way, traders said prices will be buoyed by low inventories.

16.   Falling interest rates buoy bond prices as investors choose to lock-in to fixed returns.

17.   Falling bond yields buoyed share prices, traders said.

18.   Gold prices were buoyed earlier this month by signs inflation may accelerate and eat into returns of other investments.

19.   He adds that the prospect of a balanced budget will stabilize the dollar and bring more foreign investment money into the United States, buoying stock prices.

20.   He said the cuts could continue to buoy gasoline prices into the fall when prices typically decrease slightly as colder weather makes driving less attractive.