1.   Providing one is fit enough to lift heavy indexes from the shelves and aggressive enough to elbow aside other searchers the task is relatively straightforward.

2.   Auto production probably lifted the index in the fourth quarter because many factories in the Chicago area manufacture parts for the auto industry, analysts said.

3.   Boeing Co. and Nordstrom Inc. also helped lift the index.

4.   But even as things have turned ugly for many of the blue chips that make up the Dow, technology issues rallied on Thursday, helping lift broader indexes.

5.   Exxon Mobil, Qualcomm and American International Group helped to lift the index.

6.   Gains by other large companies, which are preferred by foreign institutional investors as a way to bet on economic growth, lifted the index.

7.   Gains by Tribune Co. and Anheuser-Busch also helped lift the index.

8.   Human Genome Sciences Inc. also helped lift the index.

9.   New money from pension funds and institutional investors slated to be sunk in stocks this week may also lift the index, traders said.

10.   New money from pension funds and institutional investors slated to be sunk in stocks this week also lifted the index, traders said.