11.   Workers participating in domestic pension funds normally contribute in the second week of the month, said traders.

12.   Asian stock markets closed mixed Thursday, with share prices rebounding in light trading in Tokyo on buying by domestic pensions funds.

13.   But buying from domestic pension funds reversed the course toward the morning close.

14.   But inflows of cash from domestic pension funds following a recent deregulation of pension fund management rules is lending support to stock prices, market participants said.

15.   Buying from domestic pensions and public funds in early afternoon reassured market sentiment, traders said.

16.   Buying of blue chips by domestic pension funds helped the key index rise, led by higher futures prices, traders said.

17.   In Japan, share prices rose as domestic pension funds and other investors bought shares in blue chips and high-technology issues.

18.   Ishikawa said there was some sign of buying of blue chips by domestic pension funds, but foreign investors were actively selling Japanese stocks.

19.   Meanwhile, share prices climbed as domestic pension funds and other investors bought shares in blue chips and high-technology issues.

20.   On the stock market, share prices closed sharply higher on strong buying by domestic pension funds and investment trust funds.