81.   Also helping prices rise were low supplies of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether, or MTBE, a component of the reformulated gasoline specified by Nymex contracts, traders said.

82.   Also weighing on the dollar was persistent concern the Bank of Japan may sell dollars for yen, traders said.

83.   Brokerages declined amid concern trading scandals and elimination of fixed commissions could hurt their profit growth, traders said.

84.   Brokerage stocks were the biggest losers, slipping more than three percent as a group amid disappointment that trading has been low recently, traders said.

85.   Brady bonds pared early declines, lifted by hopes the government of Brazil was planning to buy back bonds in January, traders said.

86.   Brokerage shares tumbled on concern profits for the first half of the year may be worse than anticipated due to low trading volume, traders said.

87.   Bucking the trend, life insurers climbed amid renewed speculation one or more of the companies may be the target of a takeover bid, traders said.

88.   But some of the buying in the Treasury market Tuesday was prompted by players covering short sales, traders said.

89.   But, traders said, if true, the fund was likely covering a position, not going long.

90.   Canadian bond trading was slow today because the U.S. market, which typically sets the tone for North America, was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, traders said.