P508ORACLE 508 Mon 3 Mar C4 1708:05   THE      Mon 16.00    £ Index 72.5 (-0.7) Fri close 73.2 £1 = $1.4374 (-1.48 cents) £1 = $1.4522 Some short covering has lifted sterling off a bottom $1.4300 position. It has also made a modest recovery against the mark but is still nearly four pfennigs below Friday's close at 3.1930. Dealers said earlier speculative selling of sterling seemed to have run its course for the time being. At the back of the pound's retreat are easier oil prices. BARGAIN TRAVEL BRITISH RAIL *** 125