1.   Bundesbank officials have continually linked mark strength to confidence in German stability, and said the future European single-currency union must be predicated on similar shared stability.

2.   It pared gains, restrained by mark strength against the yen.

3.   Sales growth in Scandinavia, Switzerland, France and the Benelux compensated for mark strength, Schneider said.

4.   That also lent the mark strength against the dollar, Busch said.

5.   The trade deficit and continued mark strength were added pressures, said traders.