The strong report lifted the company's shares 39 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $31.

The bond market's June futures lifted 0.3 percent to 120.50.

He said: "If interest rates only lift 0.25 percent, the dollar will fall."

Production rose 13 percent, while exports lifted 21 percent, totalling 760 million dollars for the period.

Sales lifted 10 percent to 6.54 billion pounds from 5.95 billion pounds the previous year.

Mr. Goldman estimates that fourth-quarter profit was lifted perhaps 6 percent because of this effect.

The brighter numbers helped lift the Nikkei 225 stock index 1.4 percent, halting nearly two weeks of declines.

There are times I can only lift 90 to 95 percent of what I once did in the weight room.

The pharmaceuticals giant said that stronger foreign currencies lifted third-quarter sales 2.2 percent.

The announcement lifted shares of Williams $4.56, or 13.9 percent, to $37.44, and other major gas companies also gained.