P508ORACLE 508 Mon17 Feb C4 1714:46   THE    Mon 16.00   £ Index 73.6 (u/c) Fri close 73.6 £1 = $1.4210 (+48 points) £1 = $1.4172 The dollar loses further ground on small-scale but persistant selling in a market lacking the influence of US traders, absent because of a holiday. The main influence for the slide appears to be the suggestion that US interest rates may be set to fall. Sterling remains on the sidelines but a weaker trend in oil prices prompts some selling which leads the pound half a pfennig lower against the mark. City headlines 500 BARGAIN TRAVEL BRITISH RAIL *** 125