31.   A declining U.S. dollar vs. the Japanese yen also hurt bonds because Japanese investors are among the biggest purchasers of Treasuries.

32.   A rise in the value of the dollar against the Japanese yen also helped increase the attractiveness of bonds to foreign investors.

33.   A sharp drop in the United States trade deficit helped lift the dollar Wednesday from record lows against the Japanese yen and the German mark.

34.   A strong Japanese yen relative to European currencies also contributed.

35.   A stronger dollar against the Japanese yen and German mark compounded problems.

36.   A weakening of the Japanese yen also helped exports.

37.   A spokesman said the rise in profit is thanks almost entirely to a fall in the value of the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar.

38.   A strong Japanese yen makes it only prudent for Japanese companies to shift some production from Japan to the United States.

39.   A stronger dollar against the Japanese yen and German mark also hurt earnings.

40.   A strong Japanese yen, meanwhile, will forestall the potential for another deadly round of currency devaluations in the Pacific Rim.