Good Monday morning Gambia and welcome to  the Dalasi Update (DUD).

There are no latest trading figures this week owing to the national holiday in respect to the gallant performances of our Baby Scorpions in the just concluded African Football Youth Championships held in Algeria. The boys - Baby Scorpions lifted the trophy which is a great piece of history and national pride. This is the first time in our football history since the country's attainment of independence to go away from home and come with the ultimate prize (trophy). Bravo U17, bravo young lion hearts, we are proud of you.

Market Beat wishes to congratulate our boys and all stakeholders who directly or indirectly contributed in  cash or kind towards making the boys' participation a success and a historic defining one. His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Professor Jammeh, and his telephone calls to the squad morally boosted the boys' spirit.

It goes without saying that President's move was a major contributing factor to lifting the trophy. If that is not leadership then I wonder what leadership could ever be and may be then I have to cross the Alps to find out. The SSHFC and other corporations, that immensely contributed in money are also worthy of mention here. All the way with a winning Gambia!

Mind the GAP
Up till mid-week, Wednesday, last week, the dalasi was still struggling to recover lost grounds it suffered in the past two weeks in the close of March and early April 2009 at trading against major world currencies notably the Euro, US Dollar and Pound Sterling.

Market Beat has, once again, the privilege to bring to you the indicative rates currency tables, as we buy and sell in some of our commercial banks, entrusted by the Central Bank of the Gambia (CBG) as at the 19th March 2009. Please note that these figures could be subjected to changes when market forces come into play.