1.   After an EU agreement last year, the CFA franc remains a separate currency but is now tied to the euro anchor instead.

2.   Economists have said they expect the franc to remain strong against the mark this year, especially amid concern about the stability of European monetary union.

3.   FRANCE AND GERMANY AFFIRM TIES President Chirac of France has assured Chancellor Kohl of Germany that the franc will remain closely tied to the mark.

4.   Meanwhile, the French franc remains vulnerable against the mark, because of French economic problems, traders said.

5.   They said that could come later if the franc remains stable.

6.   The franc remained stable on Friday, but did not regain the lost ground.

7.   French grain prices were weaker as the French franc remained strong.

8.   If the franc remains very weak, the Bank of France might be tempted to hold back on rate cuts.

9.   In Paris, the franc remained stable amid quiet trading.

10.   In Paris, the French franc remained largely unchanged from its position on Thursday following a statement on tax cuts by Prime Minister Alain Juppe.