European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 31, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A today s rates following arc fixed rates at which Community banking and credit Union facilities will sell for eign currencies to . Personnel for personal use German Mark. 1.69 British Pound 1.53 dutch Guilder  1.88 greek drachma 238.0998 note the rates above apply within the Tost country figures Are expressed to dollars to the British Pound other eur Ronde to the Dollar following Are Interbank rates that fluctuate and should be regarded As the approximate value of the . Dollar to foreign Burren cies italian lira 1,705.00 turkish lira 14,404.20 Spanish peseta  142.22 portuguese escudo 175.73 Aue Teleni Schilling 12.1450 saudi Royal. 3.75 Bahreini diner  0.3767 kuwaiti Dinar  0.2960 norwegian Krone. 7.4860 danish Krope. 6.7330 British Pound 1.4815 German Mark 1.7266 Swiss franc. 1.4680 French franc 5.b660 dutch Guilder. 1.9325 belgian franc. 35.90 Canadian Dollar. 1.3556note figures we expressed in dollars to the British Pound other currencies to the Dollar Gold quote $391.50 an ounce Silver quote s5.13 in ounce new York Exchange new York up a pie 15 most Active stocks in new Yolk Stock Exchange compos trading on wednesday. Stock Sain last net of Secor Phing 40,758.000 21 off Amer tech corp 20.236,500 79 unch reps Dsa 6.327.300 30 a off Merck 4 co inc 3.060,200 35 it 0 1 Wal Mart stores 2,916,000 25 on Maxis Energy 2,636,100 5 up. Merry go round 2.497,800 3. Oft synth Core. Tel Fonos de my 2,451,400 2,276,300 15 a 67 up up limited inc 2,014,700 17 up stat company 1,966,300 53 a Oft time Warner inc 1,928,300 44 unch coca Coia co 1,878,200 45 up Rwjr Nabisco had 1,811,400 6 i unch Wax techno togs 1,581,100 26 on american Exchange new York up the 10 most Active Stock by american Stock hangs composite trading wednesday. Stock Talai last net chg. Cheyenne softer 720,500 27 up atari Core 572.200 5 on v. Royal of mines 547,500 413-16 up is Echo Bay mines 495,500 13 up adv cd photons 256,400 4 is up v. Phi Long d Tel 286,300 02 Al Ftp Olsten Core 281,900 26 up it Elan corp pc 271,500 42 v. Up Nabors Industry 260,300 7 up inner Ditl comm 238,300" 5 it Oft Dow Jones new York up i a Dow Jones closing Range of averages wednesday High us close change 30 industrials 3818.92 3764.43 3794.33 up 0 56 20 transport 1782 91 1757.81 1771 32 0h4.29 15utilities 23293 228.97 .231.08 otto.40 65 stocks 140207 1381.63 1392.73 off 1,32 november growth suggests solid recovery experts say by the los Angeles times the governments chief gauge of future economic strength Rose a healthy 0.5 per cent last month and Home sales nationwide hit a record High according to reports released wednesday. The reports seemingly assured that a promising recovery will continue Well into next year. New orders for expensive manufacturing equipment and fewer first time claims for unemployment benefits helped push the closely watched Index of leading indicators higher for november the fourth month in a Row the Commerce department said. In a separate report the National association of realtors said Homes sales bucked the traditional year end slowdown last month. Sales climbed 2.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.21 million units for the year a the fastest sales Pace since the Trade group began keeping figures in 1968, Quot if anybody thought that the new year was going to Start off on shaky ground i think their doubts have been blown out of the water a said Sung won Sohn chief economist of financial services giant nor West corp. In Minneapolis. Quot the recovery is right on track and we should see solid growth at least through the first six months of �?T94.�?� some analysts had been worrying that the Economy has recently been growing too fast sparking fears that the recovery would run out of Gas in the first half of next year. But the 0.5 percent Rise in november s leading indicators a an Index designed to forecast economic strength six to nine months from now a is a sign that the Economy probably will continue to grow at a modest Pace Well into next Spring. In All eight of the 11 economic indicators that the Commerce department uses to compile the Index Rose last month. Orders for new business and manufacturing equipment jumped new claims for jobless benefits dropped and permits for new Cost amp Toction projects climbed. The length of the average workweek also grew longer. Analysts said longer workweeks and the growing backlog of orders for merchandise Bode Well for the unemployment picture because businesses finally May be forced to hire hew employee instead of squeezing More work out of their existing staffs. Quot sooner or later a and i think it will be sooner a More employers Are going to have to Start hiring because they just can t get by with the skeletal staffs Jiey have now a Sohn said. 0 scoring in big hand for profits employees of the Tokyo Stock Exchange clap their hands in a year end closing ritual thursday the year s final Stock Price in the 225-Issue nikkei Stock average Rose 145.21 Points or 0.84 percent to close at 17,417.24, restaurants try to take bite out of reservation no shows . Bless claims lowest since 1989 Washington a r the number of americans filing the first time for unemployment benefits plummeted by 39.000 last week the government said thursday. The labor department said initial claims declined to a seasonally adjusted 291.000 in the Wea end Jed dec. 25, Down from a revised 330,gov for the previous week. That was the lowest level since feb. 4, 1989, when they totalled 286,000. The four week moving average of initial jobless claims declined 7,750 from the revious week to a seasonally adjusted 21,000, the lowest level since sept. 9, 1989. New York a frustrated by the growing number of people who make reservations but never show up or Call to cancel some restaurants Are requiring deposits demanding prepayment and even Selling tickets. Some diners find such tactics decidedly unappetizing. Count to Bennett an executive Recruiter phoned the Rainbow. Room in new York two weeks in Advance to Reserve a table for five on a saturday evening. A clerk said the restaurant would Call Back in a few Days to let her know if her request had been granted. If it was a Deposit of $125 would be required a non refundable if she cancelled less than 24 hours beforehand. Since the restaurant does not take credit card numbers Over the phone Bennett would have to come by in person to make her Deposit or mail a Check. Or the restaurant would Send a form by fax that she would Send Back with her signature and credit card number. Bennett decided it would be easier to eat elsewhere. Maybe a but for How Long a recent american express Survey of 1,200 restaurants found that one in five sometimes requires reservation deposits or guarantees usually for out of towners for larger groups Ana on holidays. A Henderson House in new Bern n.c., a Continental style restaurant with Only is tables requires All but its regulars to make a $30 Deposit for dinner $20 for lunch. A Coyote cafe in Santa be n.m., Sells tickets during special events and holidays. A the water club in new York requires a $200 Deposit for parties of five or More on weekends and for eight or More on weekdays. Only those who cancel at least 48 hours beforehand get a refund. About 10 percent of All reservations Are no shows with the figure reaching 30 percent or 40 percent during holidays and at tourist destinations. Alan Reyburn the Rainbow rooms chief executive dismissed complaints about his Deposit policy. A i cannot afford to lose five to 10 tables a night to no shows a he said. New York a its Worth it. That a the refrain of advertisers who Are forking Over a recor<0900,000 for each 30 seconds of comme Fital time during next months super bowl on Abc. The Price for a spot and during the National football league championship game is up 5.9 percent from $850,000 for the 1993 contest Between the Dallas cowboys and Buffalo Bills. The lopsided Dallas Victory disappointed advertisers who were hoping for a close game that would sustain viewer interest. A month before next months Jan 30 contest Abc has fewer than eight of 56 half minute spots still available. If All sell at around the $900,000 Price the network would bring in $50.4 million in Revenue exceeding the approximately $41 million it paid for the broadcast rights. The super bowl which Drew 133.4 million american viewers last january always attracts innovative ads showcasing new products new celebrity sponsors or technological gimmicks. The buying for next months contest comes during an and rebound in an improving Economy. Quot this has been a season which has seen some recovery in the pricing doldrums of the past few years a said Arnold Chase director of National broadcast Media for Vitt Media International inc., which buys commercial time. Quot demand this year has picked  despite the rising Price tag a up from $500,000 for 30 seconds in 1985 a most spots sold far in Advance of the game indicating advertisers Arentt waiting for last minute markdowns. Regular super bowl advertisers will return including Anheuser Busch cos. And its Bud bowl with competing Gridiron Beer bottles sneaker makers Nike inc. And Reebok International Ltd. And Pepsico and or Pepper seven up cos. Quot its Worth it if you feel like you can compete in the super bowl of advertising said Dave ropes a marketing vice president for Reebok. For the 1993 game the company bought two 60-second super bowl spots. One newcomer is athletic shoe competitor Converse inc.,. Which will debut a 30-second spot starring its Pitchman Larry Johnson the Charlotte hornets Star in his familiar get up As a basketball slamming grandmother. Chrysler corp. Will also make its super bowl debut introducing its highly touted Small car the Neon. A