European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday August 11, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 15money matters Dollar watch shown below Are the highest Dollar Exchange rates for the week of aug. 4 aug. 10 compared with Dollar rates for the same period one year and five years  Mark one Dollar would buy you 1.57 2.081990 1 a military Exchange rate British Pound one Pound would Cost you $1.70 $1-87 i a $1.47 1991 i 1990 1 1986 turkish lira one Dollar would buy you 4412 2685 1991 1990 a amps currency markets remained nervous about the Dollar last week with traders awaiting news on the direction that interest rates will take in the United states and Germany later this month. The Dollar bounced up and Down within a narrow Range last week falling As Low As 1.70 Marks on the world Market before recovering near the end of the week to Trade just above 1.72 Marks in Europe late Friday. Currency traders said the next few Days should help determine the dollars direction with much Riding on whether the Federal Reserve Board engineers a further interest rate Cut in the United states. Traders also will be paying close attention to a Bundesbank meeting thursday at which German interest rates could be raised. A the worst possible scenario for the Dollar is if there a a discount rate Cut in the United states a and German rates go up said Jonathan Griggs economist with Barclays Bank in London. If that happens the Dollar could be in a for a Nasty period a he said perhaps slipping into the 1.60s against the Mark. One hint that rates May be going Down in the United states came to Light Friday when the government reported that wholesale prices declined by 0.2 percentage Points during july. Analysts said that might allow the fed to Cut rates without worrying about rekindling inflation. Gunter Teich economist with Bank of America in Frankfurt Germany said the Dollar could weaken slightly on the heels of the wholesale Price figures but he does no to see a Dollar free fall. A for the time being i see the Dollar trading in a Range of 1.68 Marks to 1.75 Marks a Teich said. Military Exchange rates this weekend Are As follows in Germany one Dollar will buy 1.68 Marks a loss of 4 pfennig on the week and in the United kingdom one Pound will Cost $1.74, 1 cent More expensive than last weekend. The stars and stripes Sterling motor like Peugeot to halt sales in United states new York a Sterling motor cars followed Peugeot on Friday As the second european luxury car maker to Bow out of the . Market this week. The Sterling was introduced in 1987. As an amalgam of japanese engineering and British style with a Honda engine and a Host of fancy features including heated leather seats air conditioning Power everything and a Walnut Interior. But it suffered from a plethora of defects and an inability to compete with the multimillion Dollar advertising budgets of its full blooded japanese competitors analysts said. A the United states is an inviting and cruel Market a said Arvid Jouppi Auto analyst with Keane securities co. In Grosse Pointe Mich. A the japanese had the financial re sources to do the advertising and All the things you have to do to introduce a new product. If you re going to enter this Market you need deep pockets or a Rich Uncle in Germany England or Japan Quot he said. Peugeot which had argued for japanese import quotas also complained about the depressed Market and stiff Competition hut he United states in announcing its withdrawal wednesday. Sterling a Miami based subsidiary of Britain s Rover group will end sales with the 1991 Model year said Sterling spokesman Michael Geylin. Imports have ceased and about 900 cars remain at 124 dealers around the country. Most of the firms 117 employees will be kept on for the time being and a parts and service network will be maintained. Most Sterling dealers have other lines so they wont be Hurt severely said Sterling s first dealer. Todd Meier of Meier Sterling in Dallas. The decision has no effect on Rover s other . Model the Range Rover luxury four wheel drive vehicle. Sterlings went on Sale in february 1987 and ran into trouble almost immediately a report in september 1987�?Ts consumer reports said the $23,500 car performed impressively and was a pleasure to drive but Only a when everything was  Sterling sales peaked in the first year at 14,171 and dropped each successive year to just 4,015 in 1990 and 1,878 in the first seven months of 1991. Bay area papers plan to boost circulations if Tribune folds Oakland Calif. A newspapers in the san Francisco Bay area will try to increase their circulations if the embattled Oakland Tribune goes out of business leaving the City As the nations largest without a daily newspaper. But they Hope it does no to come to that. Competitors and government officials promised Friday to try to save the 117-year-old newspaper that says it will have to close its doors this week unless it gets financial help. A we Hope that the Oakland Tribune stays alive a said Clay Haswell managing editor of a Tribune rival the Contra Costa times in Walnut Creek. A i done to think anyone benefits from a major metropolitan paper having this kind of  on thursday Tribune publisher Robert Maynard said the paper with a daily circulation of 121,000, would go out of business wednesday unless it can strike a Deal with Gannett co. Inc. To accept $2.5 million for a $31.5 million debt. Large dailies including the san Francisco chronicle san Francisco examiner san Jose Mercury news and Contra Costa times plan to put out More papers in Oakland if the Tribune shuts Down. The Alameda newspaper group which has four dailies in the area also plans to boost circulation if the Tribune shuts Down. But the timing Isnit necessarily Good Haswell said. A we have a lot on our plate now in keeping up with the growth in our own area so we done to really want to expand into Oakland right now a he said. Alameda county supervisor Don Pera to chairman of the county a economic development Board on Friday sent a letter to Gannett seeking to mediate a Deal Between the Media giant and Maynard. A i know it sounds a Little presumptuous but if the Tribune closes it could be an irreversible blow to the reputation and business in Oakland and the county a Perata said. A we just want the two sides  John Reidy an Industry analyst with Smith Barney Harris Upham amp co. In new York said that if the Tribune does go under he doubts any company has the Money to take Over. A the newspaper Industry is in one of the worst recessions that anyone Ean remember a said Reidy adding that advertising Revenue is Down 10 percent to 15 percent across the country. Arlington  Gannett which in 1983 Lent Maynard and his wife Nancy $22 million to buy the Tribune has refused Maynard a offer saying he did not provide details including the name of the $2.5 million investor. Robert Maynard Delta triples pan am bid to $904 million new York apr hours after United airlines made a new offer for pieces of pan american world airways Delta air lines nearly tripled its bid Friday to $904 million. Delta previously had offered pan am $310 million for a package that includes most of its routes across the Atlantic its Northeast shuttle and various planes and equipment. Delta said Friday that it would put up $515 million in Cash including $205 million to let pan am continue operating in latin America. Delta also offered to assume $389 million in pan am liabilities. Delta Hopes to win allegiance of pan am creditors at a hearing monday. That is when Many airlines will try to snap up chunks of pan am in the company Scase in . Bankruptcy court. Under the new Della Deal pan am creditors would get the Cash that Delta is putting up plus at least 51 percent of the Stock of a reorganized pan am and other securities. United airlines on thursday offered $465 million for pan am a latin american routes Miami Europe routes and Many of the trans Atlantic and other routes sought by Delta. United based in Chicago had previously tried to buy pan am a latin american and Caribbean routes but pan am rejected the offer. Pan am based in new York welcomed Delta a proposal said spokesman Jeffrey Kriendler. The offer would provide creditors with More Cash and employees with More Job Security he said. Pan am filed for chapter 11 Protection from creditors in january. Industry sources say it is dangerously close it going broke. Other carriers interested in pieces of pan am include Northwest airlines trans world airlines and american airlines. Chicago investor Jay  and los Angeles investor Kirk Kerkorian also have expressed interest in pan am assets. Pan am creditors have sought the Best Price for the assets to minimize any losses and met privately Friday to consider offers. At mondays hearing Northwest will try to get pan am a Detroit London route. That route is included in Delta s package but Northwest believes the $20 million it has offered is More than Delta would pay if the route were sold separately