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- BUSINESS, Page 77Business NotesTHE DOLLAROnce a Rocket, Now a Rock
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- As the U.S. dollar comes down from its recent flight of
- fancy, will the fall be dangerously fast? Only a month ago, the
- currency was rising so relentlessly that economists were
- concerned that its strength would worsen the trade deficit by
- making U.S. exports too costly. That fear seemed misplaced last
- week as the dollar plunged to a level some 7.5% below its
- mid-June highs, closing the week at 1.87 deutsche marks and 139
- yen.
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- The reeling dollar reflected fears of recession. The
- Federal Reserve Board appears ready to spur the economy by
- letting interest rates fall, but that could further undermine
- the dollar by making U.S. investments less attractive to
- foreigners. Unemployment reached 5.3% in June, up from 5.2% in
- May, another sign of a slowdown.
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