P129 CEEFAX 129  Sat 13 Feb  22:31/34
    
    
    
                EXCHANGES Close         
                                        
 The release of the December US trade   
 figures caused a rush of activity which
 saw the dollar surge ahead.            
                                        
 The figure showed a deficit of $12.2bn.
 The US currency immediately hardened   
 against other currencies, but it       
 slipped back during the afternoon.     
                                        
 Against the pound the dollar advanced  
 steadily to close at 1.7400.           
                                        
 The pound was quiet but managed to gain
 some ground on the crosses, despite    
 falling to the stronger dollar.        
                                        
                                        
            Currency Rates 135