101.  Early this month, the government said that it will encourage mergers among financial companies by easing regulations and offering tax breaks by next March.

102.  Even so, shares of financial companies, whose securities businesses and bond holdings do better when interest rates decline, led the advance.

103.  Even so, financial company shares have suffered recently from concern that slowing overseas markets will reduce U.S. corporate revenue.

104.  Everen would consider a joint venture with a bank or other financial company that would expand its business outside the U.S., Boris said.

105.  Exporters, helped by a firmer dollar, and financial companies, lifted by stronger bonds, were among the best performers.

106.  Executives at four other large Japanese financial companies, including the other Big Four brokerages, have also been arrested.

107.  Falling bonds means higher borrowing costs and lower investment income, particularly for financial companies which typically hold large bond portfolios.

108.  Falling interest rates are particularly helpful to financial companies, whose underwriting, lending and merger advisory businesses benefit.

109.  Financial companies also surprised investors today.

110.  Financial companies are in similar circumstances, she said.