A Review Of Current Developments At The Amsterdam Exchanges NV And At The Europe

1. Inflation in the Netherlands remains at the usual low level and savings at the usual high level, employment is increasing rapidly and government finances are put in order to conform with the Maastricht criteria. The arrival of the Euro as of 1/1/99 definitely provides by far the greatest challenge for the coming years to the Amsterdam Exchanges in particular and to the players in the Dutch financial market in general.

2. 1996 seems to be going to become an extremely good year for the Amsterdam Exchanges NV. Total turnover in bonds, now at Dfl.1140 bln.(US $ 670 bln.) and in equities, now at Dfl.520 bln.(US $ 305 bln.) exceed the record numbers for 1995 and expectations are that over the entire year both turnover and the number of transactions will be about 60 % higher than last year.