Germany`s BGA CUTS GERMAN 2005 GDP GROWTH FORECAST TO AROUND 1% VS PREVIOUS 1.25%

Germany`s BGA SAYS OIL PRICES WILL LIKELY DROP TOWARD $40/BARREL BUT MAY

GERMAN RWI INSTITUTE SEES GERMAN ECONOMIC GROWTH RECOVERING

GERMAN RWI INSTITUTE SEES ONLY MUTED STRENGTHENING OF DOMESTIC DEMAND

ECB SAYS ACCEPTS 3.5 BILLION EUROS IN ITS FIXED-RATE DEPOSIT,

CHIRAC SAYS EUROPE NEEDS BUDGET, FOREX, COMPETITION POLICIES TO STRENGTHEN GROWS

AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR HITS ONE-YEAR HIGH VS US DOLLAR AT US$0.7957

UK`S BROWN - EXPECTS MAJOR DISCUSSION OVER MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE IN REVISED EU

SWEDISH FULL YEAR 2004 GDP +3.5% YR/YR - STATS OFFICE

US CHAIN STORE SALES -0.4% IN MARCH 5 WEEK VS +1.5% IN PRIOR WEEK