1. At the cable systems division, advertising gains helped make up for weak subscriber growth. 2. Banks and brokerages also rose, helped by gains in the bond market. 3. Automation-linked productivity gains have also helped the once ailing U.S. steel industry. 4. European stocks and bonds were also helped by gains in U.S. Treasuries after a U.S. producer price report for August supported the perception U.S. inflation is not accelerating. 5. Exxon posted a strong gain in quarterly earnings, helped by gains in chemicals. 6. Gains in bonds helped stocks rally. 7. Gains in bonds helped buoy stocks. 8. Gains in stocks help the dollar because global investors snapping up U.S. equities need dollars to pay for them. 9. Gains in Microsoft helped other software makers rise. 10. Japanese stocks rebounded from one-year lows, helped by gains on Wall Street and optimism a strong dollar will boost profits at exporters. |