21.   Borrowing rates may fall further if bond investors get more evidence that growth is weakening.

22.   Bond yields act as a proxy for corporate and individual borrowing rates and can slow growth as they rise.

23.   Bonds declined on concern the Fed will continue to push borrowing rates higher.

24.   Bonds surged after the early afternoon announcement, which came after months of anticipation that the Fed would cut borrowing rates to bolster the economy.

25.   A bigger company, in turn, can command lower borrowing rates, funnel more money into acquisitions and reduce administrative costs.

26.   A recent rise in borrowing rates may keep other companies with investment-grade ratings from coming to the corporate bond market, investors said.

27.   A number of other corporations, including Rite Aid Corp., are preparing bond sales, even though borrowing rates have climbed in recent days.

28.   Abbott, a triple-A rated company, managed to get the same borrowing rate as the government did on comparable debt just five weeks ago.

29.   Also bolstering bonds was report on Reuters news service that Fed Gov. Lawrence Lindsey was advocating further cuts in bank borrowing rates.

30.   Borrowing rates have risen as investors demand greater compensation.