91.  Britain, for example, declined to be part of the launch of the single European currency in January, citing national wariness.

92.  Brittan noted that key Japanese political leaders including the prime minister recognized the importance of a common European currency.

93.  Bundesbank council member Franz-Christoph Zeitler said the countries that fail to qualify for a single European currency should band their currencies together in a separate framework.

94.  Bunds also outperformed many European markets amid the European currency turmoil touched off by comments yesterday by German Finance Minister Theo Waigel.

95.  But an unwise commitment to a European currency union led to punishingly high interest rates that translated into chronic double-digit unemployment.

96.  Bundesbank council member Ernst Welteke said it is more likely that a European common currency will start with rates closer to German levels.

97.  Bundesbank council member Hans-Juergen Krupp said German industry will benefit if the deutsche mark falls in value before it is merged into a common European currency.

98.  Bundesbank President Hans Tietmeyer and Pete Domenici, chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, will make a statement on the future of the European common currency tomorrow.

99.  But because they are split over the proposed European currency, the whole project could then be thrown into confusion.

100.  But in January, Europe will launch its economic and monetary union or EMU, and the European currency unit will become the euro.