Word of mouth - Update

Business Asia, Feb, 2003

"Risk aversion is and will remain the theme driving the (US) dollar down against the euro as long as it looks like there's going to be a war with Iraq."

--Shohgo Nagaya, foreign exchange manager at Nomura Trust and Banking Co, Japan.

"The surge in the unemployment rate is a worrying sign ... For an economy that is supposed to be recovering, this is critical."

--Paul Tang, a senior economist at Bank of East Asia Ltd, speaking about the Hong Kong unemployment rate, which rose to 7.2 per cent in December from 7.1 per cent in November, making it the highest rate in North-East Asia.