1.   A weaker U.S. dollar helped offset declines, traders said.

2.   Advancing base metal producers and cable television companies helped offset declines.

3.   Food prices, which account for a sixth of the index, were unchanged as rising costs for tomatoes offset declines for other vegetables, beef and poultry.

4.   Gains in so-called old economy stocks like DuPont, Alcoa and Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing more than offset big declines in International Business Machines and Microsoft.

5.   In NEW YORK, U.S. stocks rose as gains by Compaq Computer Corp. and other computer shares offset declines in financial and energy stocks.

6.   Japanese stocks rose as increases in financial shares more than offset declines in exporters, traders said.

7.   Middle East growth more than offset small declines in the Asia-Pacific region and Australia.

8.   New York metropolitan stocks were little changed as Dynamics Corp. of America gains almost offset declines at General Re Corp. and other insurance companies.

9.   Repeating a pattern from the third quarter, profits fed by higher oil and gas prices more than offset declines at refining, marketing and chemicals divisions.

10.   SOUTH KOREAN stocks were mixed as gains by exporters offset declines by banks.