51.   Governments permitted the credit expansion required to finance the higher price level.

52.   Farmers in one of the most important regions are threatening a strike unless Mr Gorbachov meets their demands for higher prices.

53.   Along with investors, Vogel has been anticipating a higher price from the moment Hilton made its offer in late January.

54.   Also driving prices higher is concern that a typhoon in the Pacific, Keith, that was just upgraded from a tropical storm could damage crops in Thailand.

55.   Also driving prices higher was robust demand from traders who use historic price trends to determine future trading patterns, analysts said.

56.   Already, traders are predicting still higher prices as the Brazilian winter approaches.

57.   Also driving electricity prices higher today was the continued shutdown of a nuclear reactor in California, which reduced supply, Crowley said.

58.   Also driving prices higher was speculation that the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation is buying coffee on its internal market to satisfy export contracts.

59.   Also pushing prices higher is strong overseas demand.

60.   Also pushing prices higher was strong demand for exports.