Currency
Error rate high with euro notes trial in France
FRANCE - Two months before euro notes and coins come into circulation, the financial community is concerned that cashiers in shops and banks will not be ready to use euros and detect fake notes from 1 January.
Austrian mint ready to recycle notes and coins
AUSTRIA - Austrian federal mint Muenze Oesterreich, a subsidiary of central bank Oesterreichische Nationalbank (ONB), is preparing to begin melting down schilling coins following the introduction of the euro on 1 January.
BNM commemorative coins for sale
MALAYSIA - Coin collectors interested in buying previous issues of commemorative coins produced by Bank Negara Malaysia will have the final chance to do so until year-end.
Dutch plan euro giveaway
NETHERLANDS - On 1 January 2002 the euro finally becomes legal tender in 12 different countries. More than 15 billion euro notes and 50 billion coins will be delivered to banks around Europe over the next few weeks in preparation.
Euro coins out in Austria ahead of official launch
AUSTRIA - A small volume of euro-denominated coins have already entered into circulation amongst the general public in Austria. This is despite the fact that starter packs of euro coins are not officially due to be released to private citizens until mid…
Trichet unveils Bank of France euro info campaign
FRANCE - Bank of France Governor Jean-Claude Trichet Wednesday 5 Sep unveiled the French leg of a euro-zone-wide campaign to publicise the switchover to euro notes and coins at the beginning of 2002.
New notes pose problems for cash machines
SPAIN - Spain's Azkoyen, one of the world's leading cigarette and vending machine producers, is already cashing in on next January's launch of euro notes and coins.
U.S. coins to cease circulation in Cuba
UNITED STATES - U.S. dollar coins will be taken out of circulation from the Cuban foreign currency commercial network as of October, the island's Central Bank reported 28 August.
Pre - euro flood of forgeries is feared
EUROPE - Gangs of counterfeiters are set to offload fake francs, D-Marks and other eurozone currencies before the changeover to euro notes and coins in January, retailers have been warned.
Euro's launch vital to debate in Sweden
SWEDEN - Goran Persson, Sweden's Social Democratic prime minister, believes the Scandinavian country could be a member of the single currency by 2005 if next January's introduction of euro notes and coins is a success.
CB to work out ideas for commercial banks on euro
HUNGARY - The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) is preparing recommendations to commercial banks regarding the introduction of euro coins and notes in 12 EU member states as of 1 January 2002, MNB spokesperson Gabor Missura said.
Euro € - Portugal says it won't print large notes
PORTUGAL - Portugal's central bank has rejected printing the largest denomination euro notes because it believes people will shun them, a spokesman said on 9 July.
Europe can learn from UK's decimal currency switch
UK - The conversion to a decimal currency in Britain in 1971 may have lessons for the introduction of euro notes and coins in January next year.
Readiness for euro may be falling
EUROPE - Fewer European companies say they are ready for the introduction of euro notes and coins now than a year ago, according to a survey of big businesses in the euro-zone.