Yeltsin Rumors Buffet Dollar

The dollar ended mixed against major world currencies Thursday as investors, responding to a second day of erroneous rumors about Boris Yeltsin’s health, sought safe haven in Swiss francs.

Renewed rumors early in the day that the Russian president may have died prompted investors to buy Swiss francs. That pushed the dollar lower against the franc and the German mark, said Tim Summerfield, senior foreign exchange trader at First National Bank of Boston.

But the dollar regained its footing after Russian television showed Yeltsin, 65, working at a resort.

Exchange Currency in Dollars Dollar in foreign currency

Canada .7402 1.3510

France .1935 5.1678

Germany .6501 1.5382

Great Britain 1.5665 .6384

Italy .000656 1524.00

Japan .008997 111.15

Mexico .131406 7.6100