61.   Expectations for lower German rates grew after Bundesbank Chief Economist Otmar Issing hinted at the possibility Wednesday last week.

62.   Expectations for lower German rates grew after its chief economist, Otmar Issing, hinted at the possibility on Wednesday of last week.

63.   Expectations of a German rate cut can work to weaken the mark by reducing its appeal to investors.

64.   For further clues to the direction of German rates, Germany will release September jobless figures today.

65.   For one thing, the possibility of a German rate increase has been factored into the market for several weeks.

66.   Further clues on German rates will come from reports on October consumer and producer prices due next week.

67.   German overnight rates are lower than U.S. rates, and a rate cut would tend to benefit the dollar by making U.S. bank deposits even more attractive.

68.   German rates are already at their lowest levels in seven and a half years after a rate cut in December.

69.   German rates were already cut to historic lows in April and August last year.

70.   German bunds paced the advance as comments by a Bundesbank official also kept alive hopes of another cut in German rates.