European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday August 27, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 17 Money matters today s tip Continental airlines has held discussions with Northwest airlines and us air about a possible merger a spokesman for the Houston based airline said sunday. Art Kent the Continental spokesman while confirming that talks had taken place said a these Are not negotiations these Are very preliminary  officials at Northwest and us air could not be reached for comment. In a message to employees Continentals new president and chief executive Robert r. Ferguson said the company was talking with potential investors. Continental filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy Protection in december 1990. Conversion rates London up a a monday s rates for the . Dollar to other currencies. Figures Are expressed in dollars to the British Pound other local currencies in dollars Gold was quoted at $353.56 an ounce Silver at $3.90. Aug. 26 British Pound German Mark. French franc. Dutch Guilder. Belgian franc. Italian lira. Swiss franc. Greek drachma. Turkish lira. Saudi arabian Nyal. Spanish peseta. Portuguese escudo. Canadian Dollar. Austrian Schilling. Norwegian Krone. Danish Krone. These Are unofficial rates As reported by wire service and banking sources and they Are listed to give some idea of daily currency fluctuations. The Only official rate concerns the Sale of German Marks to . Personnel for personal use and this will be 1.71 through tuesday based on mondays noontime Price fixing. Aug. 23 1.6860 1.7535 1.7520 5.9305 5.9495 ,1.9575 1.9720 36.015 36.05 1,296.65 1,308.15 ,1.5310 1.5300 .192.05 193.31 4,549.60 4,578.10 3.75 3.7501 .108.45 109.19 .148.85 a 149.82 .1.1431 1.1438 12.2330 12.3125 .6.7890 6.8310 .6.7080 6.7550 blocs imperil free Trade experts say by the new York times Jackson Hole Wyo. In an unusually Blunt discussion economists and Central Bank officials from various countries expressed concern last weekend that the regional trading blocs emerging in Europe North America and Asia could eventually destroy the worlds free Trade system. But a few of those attending the Federal reserves two Day annual conference in grand Teton National Park argued otherwise. They said that the 40-year-old free Trade system in which More than 90 nations jointly agreed to lower tariffs has outlived its usefulness and should give Way to the regional trading blocs. The blocs can use tariffs to Stem the flow of imports from nations that Are not members. These economists said that the european Community and the emerging .-Mexico-Canada trading zone Are already proving More effective than the older free Trade system known As the general agreement on tariffs and Trade. Executive suite still Domain of men group s study shows Washington a an enduring old boy network helps explain Why less than 3 percent of the top jobs at Fortune 500 companies belonged to women in 1990, according to a study released monday. A the men at the top look to former colleagues and old school ties in both areas women have been virtually absent a said a study by the feminist majority foundation. Of the 6,502 jobs at the vice presidential and higher level in the nations largest corporations Only 175, or 2.6 percent were held by women said the study. The report was based on 1990 figures compiled by a researcher at the University of Southern California. A at the current rate of increase in executive women it will take until the year 2466 a or Over 450 years a to reach Equality with executive men a said Eleanor Smeal the former president of the National organization for women who now Heads the feminist majority. The group a Washington arca research and advocacy organization timed the study a release to coincide with the 71st anniversary of women s gaining the right to vote in the United states. Besides finding a Low number of women in key executive positions the study also found that corporate boards weren to crowded with women. Last year 4.5 percent a or 254 of 5,384 a of the Fortune 500 directorships were held by women. Only five women held the chief executive officer position at Fortune 500 companies last year the study said. In contrast to the highest level management jobs the study found that women hold 40 percent of All executive management and administrative positions up from 24 percent in 1976. A they remain confined mostly to the Middle and lower ranks and the senior Levels of management Are almost exclusively male domains a the study said. Citing various reports the study said women Are still victims of an old boy network and male a Clu rhiness Quot that dominates corporate executive suites. Men when deciding whom to promote often tap people like themselves the study said. But Peter Eide manager of labor Law for the . Chamber of Commerce disputed the report. If barriers for women exist they Are due to a a pipeline Issue a Eide said because women and minorities did no to enter the business world in Large numbers until the 1970s. Historic foundry s reopening brings Hope to Pennsylvania steel town Birdsboro a. A at Esposito a pizzeria business has improved since last Springs reopening of one of the oldest steel foundries in the country located just across the Street. Half a mile away Birdsboro pharmacy a manager Ruth Kingston also has noticed steelworkers stopping by on the Way to and from work. This Blue Collar town of 4,216 near Reading is preparing for a rebirth of sorts in step with the expected growth of the Birdsboro corp. Foundry which had been shut Down by a labor strike in 1987. Birdsboro Ferro cast inc. Paid $8.6 million to buy the 251-year-old foundry assets from industrialist Victor Posner in March. Partial operations resumed the following month with production of ingots for use in making pipes. A the foundry should have a positive effect on the Community once it gets up and going a said Edward j. Swoyer jr., Secretary of the greater Berks county development fund. The reopened foundry currently employs about three dozen people. They expect to have at least 75 employees by the end of the year and several Hundred within a few years. The foundry produces steel castings up to 200,000 pounds the heaviest in the nation. The castings Are used for ship and Marine compressors Fossil fuel generating equipment and nuclear and hydroelectric Power plants. Birdsboro chairman Elmer d. Gates said he expects the company will remain viable regardless of economic conditions since its the Only place in the nation where the castings Are manufactured. But residents said there is More than just economic factors at stake. A the town and the foundry sort of grew together a said mayor Russell h. Mountz who has lived in Birdsboro since 1938. A the steel Mill was the main function in  William Bird and son Marcus began the foundry in 1740 As a Small Iron producing operation specializing in handcrafted pots kettles and stoves. Thirty years later the younger Bird built the famous Hopewell Furnace nearby the remains of which Are preserved As a National historic site. The factories at Hopewell and Birdsboro churned out Iron for Wagon wheels farm equipment and More stoves. During the revolutionary War Marcus Bird provided muskets and cannons for sol _ a pizzeria owner Pasquale Lubrano and other citizens of Birdsboro pa., Hope that the reopening of the historic foundry will rejuvenate business in their Small town. Diers fighting for Independence. The foundry continued to serve the country during subsequent wars. In fact business peaked during world War ii when the company operated an Armor cast Plant that churned out weapons and tanks for the Allied troops. It was also the towns main employer with 1,800 workers. The company began producing mining tools and machinery in the Early 1900s, starting a tradition of making the heavy equipment for which it became known. In its heyday most of the local stores and businesses were within three blocks of the main Plant downtown Mountz said. But stores and businesses moved to shopping malls along the highways. And Birdsboro became a a bedroom Community a with residents commuting to work elsewhere the mayor said