31.   The benchmark rates are part of a plan to save U.S. phone companies billions of dollars in oversees phone costs.

32.   The benchmark rate helps set the direction for consumer loan and mortgage rates.

33.   The central bank has already cut the benchmark rate six times this year.

34.   The benchmark rates of the countries that enter the European single currency must converge because the single currency will have a single benchmark rate.

35.   The Bundesbank left both German benchmark rates unchanged.

36.   The decision to hold the benchmark rate steady was widely expected by economists, who said Britain might narrowly avoid recession because consumers were still spending.

37.   The consumer price index report is seen showing inflation remains low, leaving the Reserve Bank of Australia room for further cuts in its benchmark cash rate.

38.   The daily rate tends to run a few basis points higher than the benchmark repo rate, which is set through the auction of security repurchase agreements.

39.   The dollar rallied more than a quarter of a cent yesterday after the Bank of Canada lifted its benchmark rate.

40.   The drop in benchmark borrowing rates spurred a wave of debt sales by corporations.