1.   Analysts said the shares had been buoyed by the widespread assumption that Apple would be acquired, and the stock was now seeking its natural level.

2.   An expected pick-up in domestic growth rates also helped buoy shares, he said.

3.   Bank shares were buoyed by a rise in Daiwa Bank Ltd. shares.

4.   A new accounting rule from the Financial Accounting Standards Board may buoy shares of companies that use stock options to pay employees, analysts said.

5.   A rise in the dollar against the yen in early Tokyo trading buoyed shares of exporters.

6.   A wave of public works projects and rising steel exports should buoy the shares over the next months, he said.

7.   Bullish earnings news also buoyed shares of shutter manufacturer Bunka Shutter Co.

8.   Confidence that these key economic indicators will restrain the Bank of Japan from raising interest rates buoyed shares of major borrowers which stand to benefit low financing costs.

9.   Falling energy prices pushed up transportation stocks, and news concerning prescription drugs continued to buoy pharmaceutical shares.

10.   Even so, persistent takeover speculation continued to buoy some shares.