European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday March 29, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 17 Dollar watch shown below Are the highest Dollar Exchange rates for the week of March 21 27 compared with Dollar rates for the same period one year and five years  matters one Dollar would buy you 1.63 1992 1.65 1991 1.82 1987 a military Exchange rate one Pound would Cost you 1.70 1992 1.74 1991 1.60 1987 34 one Dollar would buy you 38 34. 1992 1991 1987 1.88 1992 one Dollar would buy you 2.06 1.90 1991 1987 one Dollar would buy you 5.67 1992 5.67 6.08 Ujj one Dollar would buy you 194 1992 182 1991 134 1987 its a get .  one Dollar would buy you one Dollar would buy you 128 105 104 1987 1992 1991 one Dollar would buy you 6,226 1992 3,616 1991 778 1987 110,000 Federal workers join Thrift plan during open session by Mike Causey the Washington Post Washington a More than 110,000 Federal workers joined the tax deferred Thrift savings plan during the 75-Day open season that ended in january. The recruits include 69,000 who Are in the Federal employees retirement system mostly people hired since 1983 As Well As 42,000 under the old civil service retirement system. About 1.8 million people have accounts. And about 1.3 million of them Are contributing Money via payroll deduction. The savings plan the government equivalent of a 401 k plan is Worth $12 billion. Currently 728,000 workers in the Federal retirement system Are actively participating in the savings plan. They put in from 1 percent to 10 percent of pay and qualify for a government contribution of up to 5 percent. Workers in the system who contribute nothing still get a 1 percent contribution to their account from the government. There arc about 400,000 of them. About 552,000 employees in the old civil service pension plan Are contributing 1 percent to 5 percent of pay. They do not qualify for Matching contributions. During the last open season 67,000 employees in the Federal plan and 42,000 in the civil service plan signed up. Some workers who have been in the savings plan from the beginning now have accounts Worth More than $60,000. And Many younger participants could have million Dollar accounts by the time they retire. Many employees Are also moving More Money from the a fund Treasury securities into the higher risk pc fund stocks and of fund Bonds. Over the 12-month period ending in february the Stock fund earned 16.08 percent the Bond fund earned 12.66 percent and the Treasury fund earned 7.96 percent. The next open season starts in Midway. Florida Developer reorganized Miami apr a judge on Friday approved a reorganization plan for general development corp., Clearing the Way for the developers emergence from bankruptcy under a new name this week. Judge a. Jay Cristol who had accepted the plan in december signed a confirmation order to end the Case that began after the company was charged with fleecing thousands of Home buyers. The company also has sold property to service members stationed in Europe. The new company Atlantic Gulf communities corp., officially will begin business tuesday. A was of the 31st, the bankruptcy will be behind us a said Nancy Fritts a spokeswoman for general development. The scaled Down company will Issue new notes and Stock to pay off creditors. Banks can expect 78 cents on the Dollar homeowners 27.8 cents bondholders As Little As 2.4 cents and former stockholders nothing. General development which built nine sprawling Florida communities now Home to 220,000 people filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy Protection in april 1990. The filing came Days after it was indicted on charges of Selling More than 10,000 residences at inflated prices. The Miami company a business had been fed by a sales Empire that stretched to Europe and Asia and relied on rigged appraisals and deceptive tactics to sell property in its Florida communities court records showed. The company pleaded guilty to fraud conspiracy changed its management and agreed to reimburse fleeced Home buyers. Four former executives Are on trial in criminal court. As part of the bankruptcy plan the company had to shrink from just under $5 billion in debts claimed by creditors to $1.5 billion through the elimination of duplicate and overstated claims. The company was Able to reduce the debt amount to $1.4 billion Fritts said. Market reflects continued concerns Over shaky Economy analyst says a amps new York up a stocks and Bonds went their separate ways last week. During better times stocks and Bonds usually go hand in hand in attracting investors. But this time in the face of uncertainty Over the Economy resulting from a Stream of mixed economic data investors turned to High yielding Bonds As a Haven while waiting for the influx of improved corporate profits. The divergence Between stocks and Bonds a Means there Are renewed concerns about the Economy a said Hugh Johnson head of the investment policy committee at first Albany corp. In Albany n. Y. A those concerns were stirred by the Michigan University a consumer expectation data. The bimonthly release showed that the improvement in consumer optimism stalled out in late March a he Saiof. For the week the Dow Jones Industrial average gave Back 1.37 percent or 44.95 Points to end a two week winning Streak. Among the Broad Market indexes the new York Stock Exchange composite Index Slid 3.65 to end the week at 223.31, and Standard amp poor a 500 Index dropped 7.80 to 403.50. Declining issues outnumbered advances 1,412-656 among the 2,362 issues traded last week. Weekly big Board volume totalled 881,735,679 shares Down from 981,544,716 traded a week earlier but up from 701,719,620 in the same week a year ago. Stocks retreated monday in the third slowest session of 1992, giving Back part of the modest gains netted on March 20 and failing to extend a two Day winning Streak. The Dow slipped Back 4.25 to 3,272.14. Stocks lost More ground in Choppy trading tuesday As disappointing car sales in mid March dampened investors optimism that an economic recovery was on track. The Dow fell 11.18 to 3,260.96. Stocks posted a three Day losing Streak in trend less trading wednesday As investors pondered twin reports that gave a mixed Reading on the state of the Economy. The Dow eased 1.57 to 3,259.39. Stocks finished mixed in Dull trading thursday on a Lack of investor enthusiasm in the face of uncertainties Over the Economy and corporate earnings. The Dow rebounded 8.28 to 3,267.67, snapping the losing Streak. On Friday a Broad sell off tied to renewed investor concern Over the Economy corporate profits and weakness in the High technology sector sent stocks plunging in Choppy trading. The Dow nose dived 36.23 to 3,231.44 a its lowest level in two weeks. On the trading floor last week at amp to topped the big Board actives easing a to 403a, apparently on concern Over upcoming contract talks with unions. American express followed gaining 1 to 23va after a rating upgrade from Smith Barney Harris Upham amp co. On the american Stock Exchange the amex Market value Index slipped 4.50 to close Friday at 394.36, losing 7.67 Points for the week. Declines led advances 545355 among the 1,078 issues traded for the week. Market update activity for the week of March 23 27,1992 daily Dow closes 3300 3275 3250 3225 3200 3175 3150 3,231.44 m w the highest close week s High lowest close week s Low week s change 3.272.14 Mon 3,296 96 tues 3.231.44 Fri 3.218.92 Fri Down 44 95 a ass