European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 06, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday. January 6, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 13not-so-bad Job figures firm up Buck Tim Fox International economist with Midland Montagu Bank in London Wasny to surprised that the Dollar stayed firm Friday despite the fact that -. Unemployment is on the Rise. The labor department said. Friday afternoon that . Unemployment hit 6.1 percent in december. A significant increase Over the previous months 5.9 percent rate and the highest level in three years. A a a Quot the Market was expecting something even worse especially after november a figures which were extremely bad a Fox said. W slightly better news was the fact that non farm payrolls in the states shrunk by Only 75,000 jobs last month a marked improvement when compared with the 259,000 jobs lost in  loss of jobs Rema ined widespread throughout the Economy though with payrolls shrinking rates Are offered for mail that is across the Board in Dollar watch Randy Mcclain retailing manufacturing and construction. But currency traders were expecting. An even More dismal december Fox said perhaps the loss of 150,000 non farm jobs. The fact that reality did no to match that number helped push the Dolla r slightly higher in european trading. Against the Mark the Buck managed to Case Back above the 1.50 Mark level in late afternoon european trading. The Buck was trading just under 1.49 Marks prior to the release of the jobs data but it later Rose to 1.5045 Marks on the Frankfurt Germany currency Exchange. The military Exchange rate in Germany was set at 1.46 Marks for the weekend a gain of one pfennig when compared with the prevailing rate thursday. Against the British Pound the Buck also gained slightly Friday. Prior to the release of the jobs data one Pound was Selling for roughly $1.95 on the Frankfurt Exchange later Friday the Pound slipped to $1,938. A Fox said he sees the Dollar continuing to Trade in the week ahead Between 1.46 Marks and 1.50 Marks on the world Market. A i see the Dollar pretty much stable at this level a he said. A i done to see fridays figures As St Rong enough to Start a new  Fox and other analysts say the dollars Fate inthe next few weeks will be determined by How currency traders balance the Prospect of recession in the United states with the possibility of War in the persian Gulf. A new years Survey of 10 International economists published in the Wall Street journal last week predicted that the Buck will fall five pfennig against the German Mark in the next three months to Trade at 1.454 Marks by the end of March. Several observers said pressure will build against the Dollar As . Interest rates head lower this year while rates in Germany Are Likely to Rise Over the next few months. Evidence of Fulling rates in the states surfaced last week As several More american Banks Cut their prime lending rates from 10 to 9.5 percent. The prime rate is that at which Franks make Loans to their most reliable customers. A majority of the analysts interviewed by the journal said the Dollar stands to Benefit for a while from the perception that it is a Safe Haven in Light of the tensions in the persian Gulf. But if shooting starts that wont necessarily translate into a big Dollar rally. In the final analysis weak economic fundamentals and a recession in the United states will prove More important than violence in the Gulf in investors eyes the experts said. A temporary gain in the Buck s value might result if a War starts but that would turn opt to be just a a knee Jerk reaction a the journal said and the Dollar w Ould later fall Back. The stars and stripes a historian William . Cavanagh gives a lecture on the the Battle of the bulge in Belgium a amps Kon George tour group has own Battle with loss of army customers by Randy Mcclain financial writer Rostal Germany a j. David Rossi makes his living teaching soldiers the secrets of modern warfare but he never expected the threat of a real conflict to endanger his company a future. Rossi owner of Rossi Cavanagh Battlefield seminars Institute near Nurnberg Germany said operation Desort shield is taking away Many of the customers he relied on when scheduling Tours of such famous battlefields As Normandy where the a Day invasion took place and Bullinger Belgium where much of the Bat tie of the bulge was fought. The company has been forced to cancel dozens of Tours since iraqis invasion of Kuwait on aug. 2, and the subsequent deployment of tens of thousands of . Troops from Europe to saudi Arabia. Rossi said his company a income fell 50 percent As a result of the confusion last year. A a it a terrible a he said., a and this would have been our Best year too a instead the company is struggling to make ends meet. A a there a a problem with funds right now and there a been a draw Down in our business a Rossi said. A we Haven to Cut anyone from our staff but we have reduced some of our clerical people to half a  7 Rossi Cavanagh Battlefield seminars Institute has been conducting Battlefield Tours for Active duty sol diets and veterans since 1986. A. The company goes to numerous locations around Europe including Germany Belgium Italy  soviet Union. Experts serve As part time consultants with the company. Historian William . Cavanagh who shares top Billing with Rossi in the company a name gives the Bat tie of the bulge lectures. A. In addition to sightseeing the company provides customers with a combat leadership workshop and workbooks on How a particular Battle was fought Rossi said. A we try to give our  on How people perform in Battle and an overview of where they Are going a he said. Quot. Many of the Tours Are two Day affairs. The first Day is classroom instruction followed by a bus tour to the actual site. A. A a a a a a a a a a a a a a. A Rossi said his company had 76 Tours scheduled last year but Only 29 of them took place. A the company was counting on 2 million Marks $1.4 million in Revenue last year Rossi said but the final total was closer to 500,000 Marks $345,000in 1989, the company brought in about i million Marks $690,000. Quot a this is a big Hole. But you have to say everything will be Fine stay Strong and keep going a Rossi said. The company is also attempting to diversify its operations by planning a series of stateside lectures on european Battles and by forging a partnership with a British tour company on Battle of the bulge trips. _ a we have loved working with the army but we have to get out and do other things until the situation returns to Normal again, Rossi a 65-year-old former b-29 radio operator in the Pacific theater during world War a ii. A a. A a a. A a a a a a a Rossi said his company also Hopes to tap into the veterans Market in the United states in a big Way this year. A a a a a a a a. A. A. In 1990, three veterans groups flew to Europe for Battlefield Tours the most recent one a Battle of the bulge tour last fall. This year 15 veterans Tours arc scheduled. I however Rossi said he is concerned that the outbreak of War in the persian Gulf might Cut into that business As Well a if War starts i feel like some of the groups will be reluctant to venture on an air plane trip to. Europe a he said. A there la be a fear of terrorism and some groups. Will probably drop  but Rossi said he and his co workers will continue looking elsewhere for new business. _. For example Battlefield seminars recently signed on with a Tennessee based Public relations company to line up speaking engagements for its experts in the United states. Plus Rossi has commissioned a series of paintings that will depict combat at the Battle of the bulge Normandy and other Sites. Prints will be sold to veterans groups he said. A we re not Pessimist in lib out All this a Rossi said a this is what life is All about. A the  and Downs. You just have to keep your humor up.�?T.�?T. A. .