A change in financial listings introduced this week includes the quoting of estimated rates of exchange for the euro, the new single currency, which comes into being on January 1st. These figures are quoted each day alongside the pound and sterling exchange rates.

The figures, compiled by the Financial Times Information Service, contain the estimated, or synthetic, exchange rate of the euro against a range of currencies. As the euro will not exist until next January, the figures should be taken only as guidelines. Each day we are also now taking a more comprehensive round-up of the European equity markets, as well as a listing of the main Nasdaq stocks of Irish interest.