European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 15, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 15, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 17money matter today s tip chemical banking corp. On monday lowered its prime lending rate one Quarter Point to 6.25 percent but analysts were not sure if the move would lift flagging demand for business Loans. Other major Banks did not immediately copy chemicals action which is effective immediately for both chemical Bank and manufacturers Hanover Trust the major new York Bank chemical acquired last year. If the other Banks follow suit the prime will be at its lowest level since dec. 13, 1976. The move by chemical the nations third largest banking company followed the Federal Reserve boards decision thursday to Cut Short term interest rates. But several economists and Bank analysts agreed the lower interest rates at this time probably wont increase loan  rates London up a tuesdays 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 $339.25 an ounce Silver at $4.11. April 13 april 14 British Pound.1.7634 1.7709 German mark.1.6510 1.6455 French franc.5.5880 5.5850 dutch guilder.1.8570 1.8566 belgian franc.33.95 33.88 italian lira.1,243.10 1,240 85 Swiss franc.1.5185 1.5130 greek  j2n x turkish lira.6,217,52 saudi arabian rtjral.3.7492 3.7495 Spanish peseta.102.75 103.25 portuguese escudo.140 64 141.51 Canache Dollar. Austrian schwlrig.11 5400 11.6075 no Weglan krone.6.4290 6.4520 danish krone.6.3560 6.3925 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 German Marks and British pounds to . Personnel for personal use and these will be 1.61 Marks to a Dollar and $1.81 for a Pound through wednesday based on tuesdays noontime Price of bongs. New York Exchange new York up a York Stock Exchange Stock Rwjr Nabisco hid ism corp first data corp at amp to company general motors Glaxo holdings limited inc digital equal pm Natl Semi conduct Pepsico inc Amr corp get Cora Hewlett Packard Upjohn co Ford motor co the 15 most Active composite trading on Sale last 2,368,000 1.712.300 1.484.200 1,230,700 1,207,400 1.194.300 1.157.200 1.067.100 1.022.100 1,002,900 1,000,900 992.100 914.100 885.600 876.600 9tt 87vfe 22h 41v� 39 28v� 24v4 45 8 35 67 i 30% 76 36 i 40 stocks in new monday. Notch. Off i up in up i on it up i up i up i up i off vib unch off 2 i up i up 1 up i up i american Exchange new York up american Stock Stock Chambers Dev a Plains resource Alza corp fibreboard corp Hll Haven corp fruit of loom Amdahl corp pall corp Wang labs inc b Echo Bay mines a the 10 most Active stocks in Lange composite trading monday. Salee 1,960,400 511.900 479,300 474,200 454,700 430,800 262,600 257.000 238.000 236.900 last 6 i 14% 44 i 6 i 2vi 37vi 14 25 4 i 6vi net chg. Off a a off m up up 2 unch up i up i off i off i unch Dow Jones new York up Dow Jones closing Range of averages monday him Low cloth of cml 30 industrials 3283s4 3230.77 3260.06up4.69 20 transport 1354.07 1323.24 1337.26 off 10.09 15 Tutu Les 204.74 202.30 203 93 up 019 35 stocks . Putting new emphasis on economic intelligence Washington a the Bush administration has asked the Cia for a dramatic increase in intelligence on the economic policies of other countries the spy Agency a director said monday. Nearly 40 percent of the administrations new tasks for the Cia is economic in nature Robert Gates said in a speech to the economic club of Detroit. A copy of his text was released in Washington. He said the increased emphasis on economic intelligence reflects the changing nature of foreign threats to the United states. The assignments were prepared by 20 administration agencies to refocus . Intelligence agencies away from cold War missions to new problems expected to face the United states through the year 2005. Quot the most senior policy makers of the government clearly see that Many of the most important challenges and opportunities through and beyond the end of this decade Are in the International economic Arena a Gates said. The 1993 intelligence budget will reflect the shift in priorities assigning two thirds of its estimated $30 billion spending to economics and other issues. Until now Between 40 and 50 percent of the budget was used to spy on the soviet Union and its allies for cold War related information. Gates in his first detailed comments about economic intelligence since taking office last november said his Agency would gather and Analyse intelligence on other governments policies and strategies and on any efforts they May make to subvert . Businesses technologies and investments. The Cia will also track compliance with International Trade agreements to make sure other countries Are playing by the rules he said. . Intelligence will Monitor foreign developments in High tech Fields such As computers semiconductors and communications Gates said. A in each of these areas . Dominance is a thing of the past a with Competition from Japan Europe and some third world countries overtaking the United states in some cases he said. The Cia is placing top priority on protecting . Firms from espionage by foreign governments Gates said. He cited cases of moles being planted in american High tech companies and . Business people abroad being subjected to bugged rooms and searches. Gates did not elaborate. But Fri officials say Russia China France and Japan Are among those suspected of such attempted espionage.7,000 Kroger workers strike in Michigan Detroit a about 7,000 employees of the Kroger co. Stores in Southeastern Michigan went on strike monday after rejecting a contract offer. Replacement workers kept stores operating. A people gave to the company and gave to the company and in 11 years they Haven to Given us anything in return a said Linda Meehan a 14-year Kroger employee picketing her store in suburban Livonia. Meehan referred to concessions the Union granted to Kroger in 1982 when the Cincinnati based Chain was in financial trouble. Kroger spokesman Michael Layne said the company was a committed to our customers and our stores will remain open with adequate  workers at 65 stores turned Down the latest offer sunday by a vote of 3,803 to 914 and authorized a strike by a vote of 3,725 to 1,007, said Chris Mcchesney local administrative assistant for United food and commercial workers International Union local 876. Patti Mcalpine a Kroger bakery clerk from Dearborn Mich., pickets the grocery chains store in Southfield on monday. 116374 1143�?T42 1154 14 9? 1.66 Good news from Ford it s adding positions Dearborn Mich. A Ford motor co. Announced about $3 billion Worth of Plant improvements monday and a gain of hundreds of jobs at manufacturing operations in Kentucky and Ontario Canada. The announcement by the no. 2 automaker marked an unusually Good piece of news in the beleaguered american Auto Industry which lately has been More accustomed to announcements of profound cutbacks closings and sales slumps. The big three lost a record $7.6 billion last year. Ford said its plans include investing More than $900 million to retool and re equip its Oakville Assembly Plant near Toronto to produce a new minivan beginning in late 1993. About half that amount already has been spent on a new paint facility. The 700 workers will come from the adjacent Oakville truck Plant where one shift of the same number of employees is being dropped. Eventually Ford said 400 More employees would be added to the minivan production. The automaker also said it will spend More than $650 million to expand and equip its Kentucky truck Plant in Louisville for production off series trucks the Best Selling trucks in the United states last year. The Plant will continue to be the Only source of Fords medium and heavy duty trucks. About 1,300 workers could be added by 1995. Ford said it also will spend about $1 billion to equip Windsor engine Plant two in Ontario for production of new truck engines beginning in 1995. About 850 employees including 700 on indefinite Layoff will be hired there. Business Caterpillar Law talks resume but sides have Long Way to go from wire reports Hinsdale Iii. A executives of Caterpillar inc. And officials of the United Auto workers Union met monday to try to resolve a 5-month-old labor dispute. The two sides met late into the night in this suburban town just West of Chicago. 1,900 sea Wolf workers Laid off Groton Conn. A general dynamics corp. Laid off nearly 1,900 employees of its electric boat division monday but said attrition had allowed it to avoid another 300 dismissals. The workers were Laid off because of the cancellation of the sea Wolf submarine program the company said. Cathay Pacific orders 11 planes san Francisco a the Boeing co. Said monday that Cathay Pacific airways would order 11 of the new 777 midsize twin engine airliners with options on an additional 11, for a total value of $3.4 billion. The Hong Kong based carriers order brings to 99 the number of 777s for which Boeing has firm commitments