51.   Low interest rates spur demand for mortgages and personal loans and also prompt companies to borrow money to refinance debt carrying higher rates and to expand their business.

52.   Low interest rates spur demand for mortgages and personal loans and also prompt companies to borrow money to refinance debt carrying higher rates and to grow their business.

53.   Lower interest rates can boost company earnings by lower costs to refinance debt.

54.   Nancy Nielsen, a spokeswoman for The Times Co., said it was taking advantage of lower interest rates to refinance its debt.

55.   Munis are also benefiting as higher interest rates make it more difficult for states and local issuers to refinance existing debt, reducing the pool of available municipal bonds.

56.   Moreover, many companies had refinanced their debt when interest rates were low, so they now have cash on hand, Ms. Ramirez said.

57.   Nine Kia contractors failed since the group was placed under bankruptcy protection last month as banks and other finance companies are reluctant to refinance debts.

58.   New York City sells billions of dollars in bonds each quarter to finance capital improvements and refinance outstanding debt.

59.   Other debt will be refinanced in due course, it said.

60.   One East Harlem business had been unable to refinance its debt because of a skittish finance company, he said.