Bonus List

COUNTRIES WITH THE CURRENCIES THAT GAINED THE MOST RELATIVE TO THE U.S. DOLLAR IN RECENT YEARS
The U.S. dollar was at its peak (at least against the newfound Euro) on Oct. 26, 2000 (when one dollar equalled nearly 1.21 Euros). As of Jan. 29, 2005, that same dollar did not even fetch 0.77 Euros. Thus, if one bought US$100 worth of Euros on Oct. 26, 2000, he or she would have seen that investment grow to $157.55 (more if he/she had been invested in something bearing interest in Europe).

However, a few countries fared even better against the dollar than the countries which converted to the Euro (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) at the beginning of 2002. (Note that on Oct. 26, 2000, all of these countries' currencies were pegged directly to the value of the Euro, except for the Greek Drachma, which changed little before also being pegged shortly thereafter.)

COUNTRY

1. Czech Republic
2. Slovakia
3. New Zealand
4. Hungary
5. Euro Nations
6. Estonia*
7. Denmark
8. Cape Verde**
9. Croatia
10. Cyprus

WHAT US$100 WOULD BE WORTH
1/29/05 IF INVESTED 10/26/2000
IN THE COUNTRY'S CURRENCY
$181.71
$178.98
$178.45
$168.60
$157.55
$157.52
$157.34
$156.02
$154.87
$154.83

If the $100 worth of South African rands were bought on December 21, 2001, then the value of those rands would have been $225.02 on January 29, 2005. However, the rand fell sharply from October 26, 2000 to December 21, 2001, so that $100 worth of rands bought October 26, 2000 would have been worth $128.51 on January 29, 2005.

These values do not reflect any commission costs.

* Since January 1, 2002, the value of the Estonian kroon has been linked directly to the value of the Euro.
** Since January 1, 2002, the value of the Cape Verde escudo has been linked directly to the value of the Euro.

Source of Data: http://www.oanda.com.

Return to the bonus lists, to the chapters of the book or choose from...

Any questions about the website or specifically for Brandt? Please send them here.