1.   Although lift prices are dirt cheap compared with those in the rest of the world, they remain out of reach for most Iranians.

2.   Concern about the health of Russian Premier Boris Yeltsin, who has been plagued by heart problems and other ailments, helped lift platinum prices, traders said.

3.   Signs that the economy is recovering from a year-long recession also helped lift prices, said Aldazabal.

4.   That news, combined with reports that China was interested in purchasing soybean oil or had already bought the commodity, helped lift prices in the soybean complex.

5.   To obtain the credit, the government is expected to lift price and exchange restrictions, moves that would increase company earnings and lift prices, traders said.

6.   Anticipation the bank would ease monetary policy helped lift share prices Tuesday on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where trading ended before the BOJ announcement.