MORE than 95 per cent of Britain's small firms say none of their suppliers have asked to be paid in euros.

According to business finance specialist Alex Lawrie, which carried out research among 300 small businesses, few businesses are prepared for the new currency which launches in January. The survey revealed that only six per cent of the businesses surveyed had started work on preparations despite the fact there is less than a year to go before the first wave of economic and monetary union. But 39 per cent believe that competition in overseas markets will boost the use of the euro. Only 28 per cent thought that not being in the first wave will be damaging. Almost half (47 per cent) said they expected export opportunities to increase. Two thirds of the respondents agreed that abolishing fluctuating exchange rates with the introduction of the EMU will help planning for the future in terms of exports.

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