Exchange rates

Except as stated, the following tables show, for the dates or periods indicated, the Noon Buying Rate in New York for cable transfers in sterling as certified for customs' purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Noon Buying Rate”):

US dollars per £1 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007
Noon Buying Rate            
High 1.9895 2.0658 2.1104 2.0777 2.0389 2.0426
Low 1.9515 1.9774 2.0478 2.0279 1.9920 1.9813
  2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Noon Buying Rate          
Period end rate 1.9843 1.9586 1.7188 1.9160 1.7842
Average rate for the period (1) 2.0073 1.8582 1.8147 1.8356 1.6450
 
Consolidation rate (2)          
Period end rate 2.0043 1.9651 1.7214 1.9346 1.7857
Average rate for the period 2.0015 1.8436 1.8198 1.8325 1.6354

(1) The average of the Noon Buying Rates on the last business day of each month during the period.

(2) The rates used by the Group for translating US dollars into sterling in the preparation of its financial statements.

(3) On 26 February 2008, the Noon Buying Rate was £1.00 = US$1.9747.