European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 the stars and stripes Money matters saturday september 17,1994 a a a Quot  today a rates following Are fixed rates at which Community banking and credit Union facilities will sell for sign currencies to . Personnel for. Personal use v British Pound. 1.61 dutch Guilder. 1.69 German Mark. 1.51 note the rates above apply within the Host country. Figures Are expressed in dollars to the British Pound other currencies to the Dollar following Are Interbank rates that fluctuate and should be regarded As the approximate value of the . Dollar to foreign currencies  a 7, a7 Quot austrian Schilling. 10.904 Bahrain Dinar. 0.37685 belgian franc �?��?��?�.�?�.�?�.31.84 British Pound. 1.564 Canadian Dollar. 1.351 danish Krone. 61109 dutch Guilder. 1.7378 French franc. 5.2965 German Mark. 1.5498 greek drachma. 233.05 italian lira 1,563.50 Kuwait Dinar. 0.2973 norwegian Krone. 6.7963 portuguese escudo. 157.58 saudi rial3.7502 Spanish peseta 128.53 Swiss franc. 1.2883 turkish lira 33,830.00. Noto figures Aro of Prossos in dollars to the British Pound Othor currencies to the Dollar Gold quote $388.25 an ounce. A Silvor quote $5.39 an ounce sources merchants National Bank amp Trust co. And the associated press new York Exchange new York apr sales 4 . Price end net change of a the 15 most Active new York Stock Exchange issues trading nationally thursday. A. A a name volume last chg. Hanson aos 12,855,500 18% itt corp3,522,500 79% five Walmart a 3,470,600 2svi 4 % Barden 2,733,300 13% a % team exams 2,692,500 64% fe-1% Eor motor s 2.572,800 28% f % compus .2,446,900 12% v % Shaw and s. 2,201,800 14% a it Compaq s. 2,166,100 37% 1% at amp to corp. 2,086,300 54% % coca cola 2.078,500 48% 1% Sara Leo 1,979,400 23% 1% Merck. 1,962,100 34% % ism. 1,895.300 69% unch Phillp moms. 1,875,300 60% % american Exchange Quot Quot new York apr sales closing Price and incl change of the 10 most Active american Stock Exchange issues trading thursday. A  volume last chg. Circa him. A 2,292.800 13% % Spur 779,80047 41/6419/32 Ingeroi gym 656,500 3 9/16 % Haikin Fungy 630,500 2% a % Gaylord con. 576,700 8% % Echo Bay 549,800 12% %  a 527,200 43/16 a % Viacom 429,000 35% a % Viacom Etc 381,200 2 unch Amdahl .310,900 9% % Dow Jones new York apr Dow Jones closing Tange of averages on thursday. 7high Low Clio change 30 industrials 3959.93 3883.90 3953.88 up 58.55 20 transport 1594.62 1559.89 1576.45 off 1.84 15 utilities 180.07 176.58 179.74 up 2.04 65 stocks 1333 94 1307.18 1327.59-up 12.26 betting on a wealthier cub some companies investors ready to get business going new York apr never mind that . Business is barred. The Economy is a shambles. Roads and sewers Are crumbling. The impoverished Island of Cuba it seems is stirring dreams of riches for some Hearty investors and businesses. A Florida company is preparing a rail Barge operation for exporting american goods there. Investors flocking to a new Mutual fund called Cuba have propelled its value skyward. . Phone companies Are aggressively Anglin Glo win Long distance contracts. Behind the enthusiasm is growing political pressure in the United states and abroad to end the 3-decade-old Trade embargo against the regime of Fidel Castro. But potential investors  puff too hard on that celebratory Havana Cigar. A a it a not an easy Road to turn the cuban Economy into a Market Economy a said Douglas lament professor of International business at the Kellogg graduate school of management at Northwestern University in Evanston Iii. A the most careful statement would be with a lot of International assistance. We can begin again the process of uplifting standards of living in  the yearning while limited to a few Brave souls recalls Havana a glory Days of the 1950s. Before Castro swept into Power in 1959, Cuba was a Magnet for business. A n. A. A. A a Quot a a a a at a cuban woman Sells Candy for just pennies in an old Section of Havana on thursday. But cubans depressed Economy Isnit scaring Oft some . Businesses and investors. Hopes is the prosperous Community of exiled cubans in Florida who see economic benefits from Trade ties with Cuba. One potential sign of heightened interest is an increase in trading of pre revolutionary cuban Bonds a originally sold by a predecessor government in 1937/ Castro defaulted on the Bond payments. But the securities still Trade on the new York Stock Exchange albeit the most careful statement would be with a lot of International assistance. We can begin again the process of uplifting standards of living in Cuba a Douglas Lamont professor of International business rum manufacturers set up shop Compa thinly and recently have been rising in Nies drilled for Oil and the United states value to slightly More than 50 cents to the became the no 1 consumer of cuban a a sugar. A Quot Quot / the new Castro regime quickly reversed that business climate. In the name a we wanted people to understand that a where the growth will be a Herz Feld said. For example Herzfeld is hot on Florida East coast industries a $170 million Railroad concern based in St. Augustine fla., that is prepared to ship goods to Cuba via rail and Barge. The company a Stock recently soared to an All time High in extremely heavy trading though factors other than Cuba Are cited. A a a a a. A a a a we think its Only a matter of time before Trade with Cuba becomes possible a said the company a president Carl Zellers. A we would Hope that we could have rail Barge service up and running in a matter of two to three  Long distance phone companies meanwhile Are trying to Hammer out agreements with Cuba for direct phone of socialism it seized property owned by companies including Cane lands of .-owned sugar Mills Worth millions of dollars. A a. The american led Trade embargo slowly strangled Cuba s Economy and in recent years the global collapse of communism eliminated other economic supporters notably the soviet Union. But 35 years after Castro a Rise some investors Are betting on a return to the Island of 11 million people. Fanning those Rani in a a service with the United states. While i at amp to Corpis the Only authorized Tele moreover investors seem to be flock phone service provider to Cuba Williams a a investment fund launched in companies wilted International inc., adds communications inc. And sprint March. Trading under the Cuba Symbol on the Nash a Stock Market the Herzfeld Caribbean Basin fund Aims to invest in companies that Are Likely to Benefit from an open Cuba. The funds Stock has soared to a High of $8 per share from its initial Public offering of $5.20 in March. It was trading at around $7 last week still up 35 percent. Thomas Herzfeld the fund manager insisted that the ticker Symbol is appropriate despite the funds current Lack of investments in Cuba. Corp. Are Angling for position. Most investors and businesses though would rather wait to see if Cuba opens up a a a a a a a a potentially you la see a huge amount of Money flowing into the country from All the cuban exiles As Well As from other investors a said Felicia Morrow a portfolio manager at emerging markets investors corp., which has investments in the Caribbean Basin. A but you la have to Start from  Washington apr a proposed settlement announced thursday involving about 700,000 Ford Bronco ii models would give owners handling advice and rec inspections on the vehicles which Are the subject of lawsuits contending they Are prone to rollovers. The class action settlement agreed to by Ford motor co. And attorneys representing owners must be approved by a Federal court in Louisiana and a state court in Alabama before it can be implemented. Hearings Are scheduled in both courts in november. The Case involves the 1983-90 Bronco ii a sport Utility vehicle that is no longer being manufactured by Ford. It is smaller than and designed differently from the Ford Bronco which Isnit part of the litigation. Ford began notifying Bronco ii owners of the proposed settlement  part of plan on Bronco i is owners who agree to the settlement would receive a sticker cautioning Drivers to avoid unnecessary Sharp turns or other abrupt Maneu vers a videotape detailing How the Bronco ii a handling characteristics Are differ ent from those of Ordinary cars and a supplement to the owners guide. They also would be entitled to a free Dealership inspection to make sure that no changes were made since Purchase that would Compromise the vehicles stability such As different tire size. A a by definition sport Utility vehicles have some different handling characteristics a said Ford counsel John Beisner. A they Are designed differently so they May be driven particularly in off Road situations. That does no to mean they re defective in any  owners have until oct. 17 to opt out of the settlement. They  get the kit or  inspection but they would retain their right to sue Ford for damages based solely on their ownership of the vehicle. How eve key even owners who agree to the settlement would be Able to sue Ford for personal injury or wrongful death if they Are involved in an Accident in a Bronco a your agreement will give them the information they need to operate the vehicle More safely while fully retaining the right to have their Day in court should their Bronco ii Roll Over a said t. Roe Frazer ii an attorney for vehicle owners. Although the vehicle has been the subject of numerous lawsuits claiming it is prone to rollover a jury has never found the vehicle to be defective Beisner said. Several cases have been settled though