41.   The Bundesbank defied financial markets by maintaining its key rates unchanged on Thursday even while stressing that there was no threat of inflation.

42.   The dollar fell by half a pfennig here in response to a decision by the Bundesbank to maintain its key rates unchanged on Thursday.

43.   The German Bundesbank, as expected, held its discount and Lombard rates unchanged after a meeting of its policy-making central council on Thursday, a spokesman announced.

44.   The market was disappointed by the decision to keep French and German rates unchanged but boosted later in the day by a rally in the dollar.