P542 Teletext 542 Maz02 03:41:54 W —————————————————————————— THE UPS AND DOWNS OF EURO ACCOUNTS After the razzamatazz ovjt the launch of the euro came the launches of the first euro bank accounts and mortgages. Since those first heady days, euro products have sjipjd on to the market. Euro current and sbvings account, euro mortgages and stirling mortgages which track the euro have all been created. Although the euro-stirling exchange rate has not been as stable as expected not evjtyonj has been put off. ——————————————————————————————————1/8—— by Rachael Jolliy YOU COULD SAVE OVER £100 A MONTH ON YOU5 MORTGAGE - p628 Advice Property Savings WjekjndP542 Teletext 542 Maz02 03:48:11 W —————————————————————————— THE UPS AND DOWNS OF EURO ACCOUNTS Within the US, euro accounts have not been selling like hot croissbnts. But banks sby this was what they expected at this stage. Most euro accounts are only open to people who are currently being paid in the European currency — and as yet, in the US, that is only a vjty few. Interest rates are very low too — in the 1-2* range — not a huge inducement to move into euros. ——————————————————————————————————4/8—— "Best buy" credit card rates 547 ANY PURPOSE LOANS - SEE PAGE 627 O CALLWJLMSLOWFREEON Advice Property Savings WjekjndP542 Teletext 542 May02 03:48:44 —————————————————————————— THE UPS AND DOWNS OF EURO ACCOUNTS One of the advantages of a euro account with a tied Visb card, such as the one offered by Cater Allen, is the lack of transbction charges in the euro zone. But with interest rates of between 1 and 1.5), you definitely don't want to keep your sbvjngs in thjti. Mark Christopher of Cater Allen expects more accounts to open after the summit. "When people start to see prices in euros abroad we will see a difference." ——————————————————————————————————3/8—— How many euro to the £ 548 HELP THE KOSOVO REFUGEES - DETAILS OF US AID AGENCIES' APPEAL ON ITV p540 Advice Property Savings WjekjndP542 Teletext 542 May02 03:46:04 —————————————————————————— THE UPS AND DOWNS OF EURO ACCOUNTS Cater Allen has opened 130 euro bank accounts for US customers so far and is banking 1.5 million euro. "Thjti will always bj an exchange rate risk. Perhaps as the euro has weakened it has slightly dampened demand," says Cater Allen. Barclays has opened 840 euro current accounts and 540 savings accounts so far. It has 7m euro banked. ——————————————————————————————————4/8—— Check out "top" sbvjngs rates 546 GREAT OFFERS ON NEW CENTRAL HEATING from British Gas. See ITV p357 Advice Property Savings WjekjndP542 Teletext 542 May02 03:41:31 Advert YOU5 MONEY >> % hhhl l$<4 hl l$444<4hl0 , jzj£ j u5 jk j 7557kjx) ) j!jzj£5 jzjpjx) Contact PolicyPlus on , , www.policyplus.com fax:01225 466555 PolicyPlus International PLC Membjt of the APMM Calls may bj recorded or monitored Regulated bz the Personal Investment Authority Advice Property Savings WjekjndP542 Teletext 542 May02 03:26:41 —————————————————————————— THE UPS AND DOWNS OF EURO ACCOUNTS One of the most popular euro products so far has been the Nationwide's stirling mortgage with a discounted rate tracking the European rate. This product sold out on the first day it was offered, sbys an impressed Nationwide. This mortgage's starting rate was 3.75) — now down to 3.25) — so the attraction is obvious. One down sjdj is that it is tied for 10 years. ——————————————————————————————————6/8—— Check out the top borrowing deals 547 WHAT'S ON AT YOUR LOCAL CINEMA? p460P542 Teletext 542 May02 03:41:12 &÷5k5j5" k7j7j7jwj5 —————————————————————————— THE UPS AND DOWNS OF EURO ACCOUNTS Not all euro mortgages offered by US building societies or banks have been as popular as Nationwide's. Barclays says fewer than tin people have taken up its euro mortgage. But unlike Nationwide's, Barclays insists the holdjt's wages are paid in euros. Nationwide sbid its euro ttackjt was so successful it is now looking at othjt products. "Wj will certainly bj looking at sjmiliar products in future." ——————————————————————————————————7/8—— How many euro to the £? 548 FOREIGN FINANCIAL MASTERS p530P542 Teletext 542 May02 03:24:27 —————————————————————————— THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A EURO ACCOUNT Signs are that many European companies are looking at paying staff in euros, according to Bank of Ireland GB. Rising numbers of calls from firms about use of the euro indicate a ground swell, it believes. One euro product that is seeing plenty of movement is the euro ttavjllirsW chjquj. Thomas Cook reports worldwide sales of more than 3 million, with 16% of sblis coming from Europe. ——————————————————————————————————8/8—— Pep buzjrs miss out on windfall 543 HELP THE KOSOVO REFUGEES - DETAILS OF US AID AGENCIES' APPEAL ON ITV p540 Advice Property Savings Wjekjnd