21.  As a result, inventories of new homes rose to the highest level since 1980.

22.  As a result, sales of cars and trucks in this country surged in October to the highest monthly level in the auto industry's history.

23.  Drug corruption scandals have reached the highest levels of government, and law enforcement officials have become assassination targets of vengeful gangs.

24.  During the day, the dollar touched its highest level against the yen in nearly seven months before falling back.

25.  During the early weeks of this month, initial unemployment claims increased to their highest level in five years.

26.  During the first 30 minutes of trading gold topped $409.80 an ounce, its highest intraday level since Aug. 24, 1990.

27.  During the morning session, when Tricom was at its peak, the Hang Seng hit 13,690 _ its highest level since before the market crash in October 1997.

28.  During trading the index reached 2270.97, its highest level since March 12.

29.  During trading, it rose as high as 20,213.82, its highest level since Dec. 19.

30.  During trading the index rose as high as 2286.53, its highest level since March 11.