1.   Low interest rates boost bonds by making it cheaper to borrow funds in the money Market and invest it in bonds.

2.   Also helping to boost bonds was market speculation that Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto would seek a further interest rate cut, said traders.

3.   And little sign of accelerating inflation should boost bonds because inflation erodes the value of fixed-income assets, such as bonds.

4.   Bonds have been boosted in recent weeks as domestic investors have been shifting funds into fixed-income securities in the wake of falling global stock markets.

5.   Bonds were boosted in recent weeks as domestic investors shifted funds into fixed-income securities in the wake of falling stock markets around the world.

6.   Bonds were also boosted by gains in the U.S.

7.   A decision by U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers to leave rates unchanged next month in the U.S., the benchmark for rates worldwide, should boost Japanese bonds.

8.   A decision by U.S. Federal Reserve policy-makers to leave rates unchanged next month in the U.S., the benchmark for rates worldwide, should boost Japanese bonds.

9.   A fifth increase in interest rates would be sure to slow the economy further, perhaps boost bonds and strengthen the dollar.

10.   A government report showing U.S. worker productivity rose at a faster rate in the second quarter than first reported did little to boost bonds.