European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday March 13, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 17 today s tip More than 23 million couples and individuals have received Federal tax refunds totalling $23.5 billion this year the internal Revenue service said wednesday. The refund total is More than 20 percent higher than the $19.6 bilion at this time a year ago the is said. Refunds Are averaging a 1,020, up from $916 last year. Through March 6, the irs had received 47.1 million returns an increase of 4.5 percent Over the 45 million at this time in 1991. Almost one fifth of the returns a 8.8 million a were filed electronically directly into an irs computer. The Agency had processed 33.8 million up 3.7 percent from 32.6 million a year ago. With the april 15 filing deadline Only five weeks away the irs cautioned taxpayers that any necessary tax forms and publications should be ordered soon. The tax packages that most taxpayers received in the mail include a mailing address to order forms. Orders also May be placed by calling a toll free number 1-800-829-3676. Conversion rates London up thursdays 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 $347.75 an ounce Silver at $4.11. March 11 March 12 British Pound.1.72385 1.71035 German mark.1.6650 1.6750 French franc.5.6950 5.6730 dutch guilder.1.8843 1.8810 belgian franc.34.32 34.49 italian lira.1,257.05 1,252.15 Swiss franc.1.5125 1.5165 greek drachma.192.85 192.30 turkish lira.6,058.40 6,012.90 saudi arabian riyal.3.7501 3.7501 Spanish peseta.105.41 105.25 portuguese escudo.144.13 143.66 Canadian dollar.1.1956 1.1930 austrian schilling.11.785 11.740 norwegian krone.6.562 6.539 danish krone.6.4935 6.4715 these Are commercial rates and can be related Only to the use of foreign currency by . Forces for official business. The Only official rates concerns the Sale of British pounds and German Marks to . Personnel for personal use. Through Friday these will be 1.63 Marks to a Dollar and $1.76 for a Pound based on Price fixings thursday afternoon at military banking facilities. New York Exchange new York up York Stock Exchange the 15 most Active stocks in new composite trading on wednesday. Stock Salei last net chg. Valassis comm 4,000,300 16 % unch limited inc 3,113,100 27 a off % Rwjr Nabisco hid 2,535,700 10 a up % Glaxo holdings 2,259,900 27 i off % Tel Fonos de my 1,789,100 54 i off 1 i Philip Morris at amp to company 1,587,700 76 % off i 1,567,400 38 i off i get corp 1,542,700 30 i off % Williams cos 1,467,900 34 h off % aut zone 1,448,200 35 off i  inc 1,434,300 42% off 2 i Pepsico inc so Raumberger Hanson pc 1,328,100 31 % up i 1,311,700 54% off 1 % 1,289,400 19 i off % Compaq computer 1,283,900 27% off 1 % american Exchange new York Al Jet american Stock excl Stock Conti air Hodgs carnival cruise Wang labs inc b pm group web Amdahl corp Nabors Industry Aiza corp Echo Bay mines Western digital Jan Bell mtg a the ten most Active stocks in Ange composite trading wednesday. Sales 1,010,100 425,500 414,000 399,100 389.800 305,400 257.800 257,200 256.600 253.600 Lett 1 32 a 6 % 11 i 18% 6 % 42 % 7 i 3% 14 net chg. Up 3-16 ot<1 % off i up i off i off i off 1 i up i Oft i off i Dow Jones new York up Dow Jones closing Range of averages wednesday 30 industrials 20 transport 15 utilities 65 stocks High 3242.17 1409.38 206.12 1169.88 Low 3189.85 1382.10 203.24 1150.21 close 3208.63 1389.95 204.56 1157.00 change Oft 22.36 Oft 18.12 Oil 0.56 off 9.51money matters american express worried Over its credit card image new York a top executives of the american express co. Said wednesday that they were trying to retain the company a prestige after a backlash by merchants internal turmoil and a recessionary slump. Perceiving a Public relations problem with the Green Gold and Platinum cards american express chairman James d. Robinson Iii and president Harvey Golub said they a want to ensure the card is welcomed a not just  a that is not always the Case today As some of you May have experienced a said their letter to shareholders that appeared in the company a 1991 annual report. A this is unacceptable to us and is one of the major issues we Are working  analysts said the letters tone reflected the troubles at the charge card and travel Industry Leader. A i  say  id say a contrite a a said John Keefe of Lipper analytical securities corp. In describing the letters tone. A they have been arrogant in the past and for a Long time they deserved to be. In the last couple years things have changed. I think its appropriate they take a look at themselves. American express had a profitable but nonetheless disappointing 1991. The company was Hurt of a decline in travel caused by the recession. It also faced Large losses and a management overhaul at its Optima credit card operation and complaints by merchants about High fees. American express made $789 million last year up from $181 million in 1990. But that was below expectations and was overshadowed by troubles that led to reorganization of its Core travel related services unit where profits fell 59 percent. A for years we were Able to remain above month that it would Cut rates for some merchants. That was reaffirmed in the annual report which cited economic pressures. The company has said the lower rates would involve less than 1 percent of merchants who accept the card in the United states. Robinson and Golub conceded that the company May have alienated clients. A in the past our sales Force spent the majority of its time trying to add new customers and significantly less time the fray of credit card Competition a Robin. A _ primary markets a the affluent households Ana son and Golub said. A but Bank card issuers have turned their sights on our travel and entertainment  some merchants a particularly restaurants a have complained about the higher fees american express charges for accepting its cards. The company has justified the fees on grounds that Consumers buy More with american express cards and the company spends More promoting card use. In response to a few highly publicized cancellations american express said last strengthening relationships that were already in place a they said. A this emphasis is now being  despite the problems the number of merchants accepting the card increased 10 or cent in the United states last year. In Oston site of a publicized dispute Only two restaurants dropped the card while 230 signed up company spokesman Michael of Neil said. The letter said american express would cancel contracts with merchants who discourage use of the card because they done to want to pay the fees. That happened rely we a. Retailer Laura Ashley. Gently when it ended a relationship with paper says pm exec eyeing Iacocca s Job new York apr another contender has emerged As a possible replacement to Chrysler corp. Chairman Lee Iacocca a published report said but this time the candidate is from general motors corp. The new York times reported thursday that Robert j. Eaton president of Gmys european operations had discussed with Iacocca the possibility of joining Chrysler As a senior executive. The times said the move would presumably make Eaton a leading candidate to become chief executive when Iacocca retires. Eaton told the times he had not received a firm offer. But the newspaper citing an unidentified automotive executive said an offer might come within a week. Eaton 52, is a longtime engineering executive who has been with pm nearly 30 years. A rare Bright spot for pm the european operation made $1.76 billion last year compared with a loss of $4.5 billion for Gmys North America operation. Speculation Over who will succeed Iacocca has mounted in the last month. Iacocca 67, has announced he plans to retire As chief executive after 1992. The top contender is Chrysler president Robert Lutz who is credited with assembling the team behind Chrysler a latest vehicle introductions. But there Are others a former vice chairman Gerald w. Greenwald and former race car Driver Roger Penske. William Hoglund executive vice president at pm and Ford executive vice president Alex Trotman also have been mentioned. Lutz is considered the logical successor but insiders said he and the Japan bashing Iacocca done to get along Well. Honda courts . Companies Tokyo apr Honda motor co., in keeping with its pledge to boost purchases of .-made Auto parts is inviting several dozen american parts makers to Tokyo next week Honda officials said wednesday. About 40 foreign parts makers mainly from the United states have been invited for an All Day briefing and factory tour next wednesday and thursday. While the guest list has not been finalized it is Likely to include Motorola try Texas instruments and other companies that already Supply parts for Honda the company said. The invitation to the Honda a Headquarters in Tokyo follows a similar move by Nissan. A a we a like to have More meeting but we done to have a firm schedule yet a said Honda spokesman Yasuhiro Wada. Honda officials said the move was part of an Industry wide pledge to roughly double purchases of . Auto parts. Agreements to that effect were signed when president Bush visited Tokyo in january. Honda imported $260 million Worth of foreign parts in fiscal 1991, which ends March 31. It is aiming to increase that amount to $560 million by fiscal 1994. Business nearly 2,000 apply for 22 jobs with Sony from wire reports new Stanton a. A facing Odds of 90-to-1, 1,980 people applied for 22 jobs at a Sony corp. Large screen to Assembly Plant opening this summer. A i think anybody would take a Chance at anything right now. The areas in a bad Way now a applicant interviewer Don Holsing said wednesday. The states employment agencies arc screening the applicants for Sony. The Plant in new Stanton about 25 Miles from Pittsburgh is a former Volkswagen factory that closed in 1988, costing about 2,500 jobs. Sony expects to hire at least 250 workers by the opening in july. Eventually the Plant will employ More than 1,000. Lance debt unpaid new York a Citibank has moved in a Manhattan court to attach the assets of Bert Lance former president Jimmy Carters budget director because Lance has failed to pay a visa credit Bill of More than $50,000. State supreme court Justice Seymour Schwartz ordered Lance of Calhoun ga., to appear in court March 24 and explain Why Citibank should not be allowed to seize Nis property to pay the debt. Lance resigned As director of the Federal office of management and budget in september 1977 amid charges of financial wrongdoing. After a trial he was acquitted on some charges and a judge dismissed the rest. Braille menus updated Chicago a Mcdonald a corp. Was to introduce on thursday updated braille and picture menus to its . Restaurants in a move to lure More Blind As Well As speech and hearing impaired customers. A a we re committed to serving our customers and that includes All our customers a said Mcdonald a spokesman Dick Starmann. A a we be been Able to open the door to have More people visit Mcdonald a with these new  Mcdonald Snow the Only fast food Chain to offer braille and picture menus nationally has had the plastic braille menus in some stores since 1979. It updated them to include new products including the Mclean deluxe and breakfast burritos