31.   Yesterday, the central banks of the U.S., Germany, Japan and Switzerland caught traders off guard by coordinating dollar purchases.

32.   Yuhiko Kaji, a currency analyst at Sakura Bank, said the central banks of other major countries may join dollar purchases.

33.   But the proposal prompted a surge in capital flight amid speculation that Chavez would implement foreign exchange controls and impose a tax on dollar purchases.

34.   Central bank Governor Gabriel Singson said the additional reserves came from borrowings from multilateral lending institutions, other international lenders and dollar purchases.

35.   Dealers said dollar sales by the central bank, the recent tightening of rules on dollar purchases, and improvements in the regional currency situation boosted the peso.

36.   Dealers said intervention by the central bank, the recent tightening of rules on dollar purchases, and improvements in the regional currency situation boosted the peso.

37.   He declined to say whether the dollar purchases were made on the Philippine foreign currency exchange.

38.   In an interview with state-owned news station Venezolana de Television, Giordani dismissed rumors about a looming devaluation, which recently prompted an increase in dollar purchases.

39.   In currency trading, the peso weakened against the dollar in morning trading, pressured by a weaker Japanese yen and dollar purchases by domestic banks, dealers said.

40.   Joao Abel Neves, a central bank director for dollar purchases, told reporters he was shocked by the fraud.