51.   In other trading, growing optimism that European monetary union will go forward on schedule bolstered the French franc against the mark.

52.   In other trading, the dollar rose to six-week highs against the British pound, Swiss franc and French franc.

53.   Indeed, the financial markets have feared such unrest in the past week, sending the French franc down sharply against the German mark.

54.   Investors dumped lire, Swedish krone, Spanish pesetas and even French francs for marks and Swiss francs.

55.   It also tumbled against the French franc and Italian lira.

56.   Investors accelerated the sale of French francs because of its economic and political turmoil, traders and analysts said.

57.   Indeed, Trichet followed that policy even when it pushed the value of the French franc so high that it crippled exports and increased unemployment.

58.   It also set multiyear highs against the Swiss franc, French franc and Italian lira.

59.   It also fell against the French franc, Swiss franc and Italian lira.

60.   It also weakened against the Swiss franc, French franc and Italian lira.