The dollar hit 6-year highs against the mark and French franc Monday after remarks by France’s president Jacques Chirac intensified pessimism about Europe’s planned single currency.

The momentum of the dollar’s advance, particularly against the mark, aroused more demand for dollars as the day progressed and exerted further pressure on the German currency, which has fallen to a series of multiyear lows against the dollar, pound and yen in recent weeks.

Exchange Currency in Dollars Dollar in foreign currency Canada .7304 1.3692 France .1648 6.0680 Germany .5584 1.7907 Great Britain 1.6821 .5945 Italy .000573 1744.00 Japan .008768 114.05 Mexico .127405 7.8490