Show II t Fluctuations in Foreign Currencies rl I Wide fluctuations were experienced by many Important foreign currencies during 1926 The figurea fig fig- urea ures for the eleven eleven- months ot of the year showed an astounding varIation In foreign exchange values or of many countrIes One or orthe orthe the most startling examples was the record or of the French franc The hIghest point was about 4 cents and the low was 4 1 cents TwIce during the year France faced an economic crisIs once when the franc dropped steadily in value from 2 1 cents last January to 4 1 cents In July and once again during its Its phenomenal rIse to 4 cents in the second week of December During this last rise French economic eco ceo conditions were very seri seri- ous Many factories were closing down and men were out or of work all allover over the country Prices which were skyrocketed during the do- do chine of the franc the fIrst part pant of the year to decrease fast enough during the rise recent and with the stagnation or of business and reduced wages common people were were In a difficult position The French Federation or of Labor reported reported re- re ported that there thee would SOOn be over oyer men out of work The government has attempted to do doall doall all that Is possible to relieve relieve- the Increasingly serious situation by extensive public works and by an effort to reduce the large number Of foreign working within Its borders BELGIAN MONEY STABILIZED The Belgian franc was ed d at cents on the January market dr dropped to Its low Jow for the year at cents In JulY It then rose to cents In August anti ana fell to cents In October where It held well for the remainder r or orthe orthe the year The stabilizing of BelgIan currency by the establIshment or orth orthe th the new belga has helped the country enormously and during the tho a rapId rise ot of the French franc duning durIng dun dur- Ing the hatter months of the past year the new beIge showed Its strength by holding Its level very well weB Italian lire which fell from 4 1 cents In January to 16 cents In JUl July was forced back again to a new new high for the year ear of t 4 4 cents in October and since that time has remained fairly con con- stant Some other countries suffered even worse than France among among- them Norway whose unIt of exchange ex- ex change the crown jumped from 22 cents where It had held stead steady for eIght months to 26 cents in less leg than two months This jump further further fur fur- ther restricted export trade which has already suffered from lack ot of British demand due to the coal strike and a number ot of shut shutdowns owns have been reported In the paper and other Important Industries Polands Po- Po lands zloty dropped from 15 cents last Januar January to 9 cents In May The Spanish peseta jumped from rom 1406 cents In March farch to 1635 cents In June and dropped again to 1490 cents In August IN SOUTH AMERICA In South AmerIca Ecuador and Peru had constant fInancial troubles although outside Interests interests Inter Inter- ests were vere rapidly assIsting them to toa toa a stable condition towards the end of the year BrazIl also suffered from exchange change fluctuations her milreis tobogganing down from 1593 cents In July to 1134 cents on December 10 lit In Brazil a low rate or of eX hange Is favored by Some parties as It assists In th export trade whIch comprises the of her COmmerce On the other hand It makes the costs to Bra Bra- people leOple for imported articles very high and the taxes which are In are very heavy POUND STERLING STEADY The English pound sterling had hada a a- fluctuation durIng eleven months of 02 8 5 cents Jn In the early part of this exchange not active and for the first weeks lIttle Or no change was evIdenced This due In some degree to the t tn ferring ferning of attention to the 10 Ol markets principally to thet The stagnation or of the p Pd sterlIng durIng the ear eary y part par December Is not expected to after atter the first of Heavy January settlements no no- mention International debt adji meats ments are apt to stimulate mand for sterling with a cO quent return to normal It has been poInted out bY authorItIes that there will be improvement In the situation until the effects of recent strIke have worn o t greater extent On the erl however It Is stated that therel been consIderable encourages encourage derived from the fact that dull dulla a long perIod of uncertainty no no say stress it has been possible maintain sterling values and prevent a drain on English reserves A |