European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday april 13, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 17money matters today a tip economic experts have sharply scaled Back forecasts that the downturn would Worsen for Western Germany and the Economy would Crow by Only 1 percent this year. The Spring report to the government was leaked saturday in Bonn Germany. The Independent advisers to the Bonn government said that the Eastern German Economy was Likely to recover from its Sharp decline and grow by 10.5 percent a but stressed the upswing was largely tied to massive injections of state  rates London Fuji fridays 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 $341.00 an ounce Silver at $4.13. April 9 april 10 British Pound.1.7599 17728 German mark.1.6340 1.6230 French franc.5.5400 5.5010 dutch guilder.1.8405 1.8295 belgian franc.33.62 33.40 italian lira.1,234.35 1,225.00 Swiss franco.1.4985 1.4915 greek drachma.191.40 190.30 turkish lira.6,303.80 6,293.30 saudi arabian rtyal.3.7500 3.7500 Spanish peseta.103.65 102.19 portuguese escudo.140.37 139.49 canarian dollar.1.1908 1.1877 austrian schilling.11.5075 11.4325 norwegian krone.6.424 6.3770 danish krone.6.344 6.3040 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 monday these will be $1.82 for a Pound and 1.58 Marks to a Dollar based on Price fixings Friday afternoon at military banking  issued for toddler Beds after 1 death Washington a the consumer product safety commission and a manufacturer have announced the recall of 155,000 toddler Beds after reviewing 50 cases in which youngsters became trapped in the Beas Metal Arches. In one instance a baby died. The Washington announcement came four months after the manufacturer Cosco inc., of Columbus ind., reported that the victim a 15-month-old, was killed when his head became stuck in a headboard. No other children were injured. One problem lies in the 5-Inch spaces Between the Arches which provide just enough space for children to put their Heads through risking strangulation. Some children also have become stuck Between a Bottom Arch and their mattresses. The numbers of the models being recalled a 10t22 or 10t23 a can be found on a Label on the bed Frame Cosco officials said. Consumers who already own the Beds should Call 1-800-468-0174. Replacement parts with narrower openings will be mailed to them. Until the parts Are replaced the Beds should not be used both the company and the safety commission said. Cosco first began retrieving the product from its retailers March 15. It had been on the Market since december 1990. Bush plan would return part of Union dues to non members new York a president Bush is planning to take Steps to prevent unions from using billions of dollars in fees collected from non members for political activities the non members done to support according to a published report. Bush was to outline the Effort in a speech today the new York times reported sunday quoting White House officials it did no to name. The president Hopes to enforce a 1988 supreme court decision that said nonunion workers who must pay dues to unions have to pay for Only collective bargaining and representation on labor management activities the times said. The officials the times quoted said the move should return to workers about $2.4 billion a  guide labor leaders vigorously oppose such restrictions saying they would Force unions to spend More Money on accounting and undermine legitimate political activities. Lane Kirkland president of the Al Cio accused Bush of pandering a to Union bashing right Wing extremists in his  a it is laughable for the president after vetoing unemployment insurance improvements and failing to show concern for the millions of jobless in the longest recession since the 1930s, now to pretend that he a the Friend of workers a he said. In some states workers who done to belong to a Union but Are covered by its contract must pay Union dues. Under Bush a plan those workers could use the supreme court ruling to get part of their dues Back. The White House officials said Bush plans to Issue an executive order requiring that companies with government contracts Post notices telling employees of their right to object to political use of their Money. Bush also plans to order the labor department to require unions to report separately the amounts they spend for political activities lobbying and contract negotiations. Federal Laws bar unions from contributing directly to political campaigns. However unions May use their Money for get out the vote drives and to mobilize support for a cause through Telephone Banks newsletters and other activities. Know the basics of yield total return q i am confused about the merits of a a yield and a total return of Mutual funds. If a fund is paying a desirable dividend yield Why does the total return matter a unless the investor is trading in and out it appears to me that except under the aforementioned condition there is no Benefit to be derived from total return. A appearances can be deceiving a especially when important things Are overlooked As you have done. So that All readers know what we Are talking about Here arc Quick explanations of the two items yield tells you what an investment is producing in income a and nothing else. A current yield the Best measurement is arrived at by dividing a Security s annual dividend by that Security s present Market value. If Xyz Mutual fund paid $1 in dividends on its shares Over the past 12 months and the Hind s asset value per share is now $20, its current yield is 5 percent. Total return on the other hand informs you How Well or How badly an investment in a Mutual Hind fared assuming ail dividends and capital gains distributions were reinvested. If besides paying $1 dividends Xyz Mutual funds share value Rose to $21, its total return would be More than 10 percent. How much More depends on the Date of the dividend payments. On the flip Side if the share value fell total return could be Zero or a negative number. Yield would be cold Comfort when declining share value produces negative total return. Q i am living on a $619 monthly social Security Benefit and approximately $425 monthly interest from three certificates of Deposit. A $35,000 cd i had matured in september. Since Banks Are paying such Low interest on new cd i talked with a broker i know and invested in a Mutual fund. The $35,000 purchased 3,575 shares. I thought i had an understanding with the broker that i would receive a monthly dividend Check in the neighbourhood of $250. But i have received no Money and the statements i do receive show my dividends Are being reinvested. The latest statement shows i now own 3,591 shares. Should i let this continue or should i ask for dividends dating Back to september a considering your financial situation you definitely need More income. So it makes sense to reinvest your Mutual fund dividends to Purchase additional shares. Make it dear to the broker that you want to Start receiving those monthly dividends a Pronto. If you done to receive a dividend Check with your next monthly statement and the statement shows the dividends Are still being reinvested Contact the Mutual Hind s shareholder relations department to get things squared away. You will find the funds Telephone number in the shareholder reports you have received. Now get set for a letdown. You Are probably Are not going to get $250 a month in dividends. On a $35,000 investment that would be an 8.6 percent yield a More than most Mutual funds pay. The Hind you named in your letter began operations in May. Since then it has paid dividends monthly. However those dividends have been erratic. Its too Early to say if they will amount to 8.6 percent annually. There s nothing basically wrong with your investment Choice As Long As you Are aware there is some risk involved. That risk is offset by the fact the Mutual Hind will provide higher income than cd. How much higher at this Point it s impossible to say. King feature Syndicate King Center to raise Money through credit card venture Atlanta up a a civil rights organization named after the Rev. Martin Luther King or. Said it is going into the credit card business to raise Money for its social and educational programs. The Martin Luther King or. Center for nonviolent social change in Atlanta and Marine Midland Bank based in Buffalo n.y., announced a new Mastercard program that gives the Center a portion of the revenues generated by card holders. Daniel Kolber who represented the King Center in the credit card venture said issuing credit cards a is a method that a been used quite a bit but generally not by civil rights organizations. Usually 0.5 percent of the Money charged on cards is rebated to organizations that sponsor them said Elgie Holstein of bankcard holders of America inc. Kolber said the Center rejected the idea of using Kings image on the cards face. Both classic and Gold cards Are available with annual fees of $20 and $36, respectively. The first six months is free. Current rates Range from 14.95 percent to 19.8 percent depending on the card and whether it charges a variable or fixed interest  Jal cuts fares by up to 20% on North american routes from wire reports Tokyo a Japan airlines announced fare cuts to Pacific and american destinations effective tuesday. Economy class fares for the Japan North America route will be Cut by 5 percent while special discount fares and prices for package Tours bound for Canada Mexico and the United states will be reduced by up to 20 percent. Audi Boss Piech to Lead vow group Bonn Germany a the supervisory Board of Volkswagen a has approved the promotion of Audi Boss Ferdinand Piech As future head of the vow group Europe a largest automobile manufacturer. The 54-year-old austrian becomes a Board member immediately and will take Over from chief executive Carl h. Hahn on Jan. 1, a supervisory Board spokesman said. Piech has gained a reputation for toughness in the four years he headed Vwg a subsidiary Audi. He will take Over As the concern is launching a major Cost cutting exercise. The group recently announced it planned to Cut 2,500 jobs in Germany annually for five years