Euro countdown - Economic E15bn legacy currency windfall expected Central banks and governments in the eurozone stand to collect a windfall of up to E15bn (£9.3bn, $13.3bn) from old legacy currency bank notes that are not handed in for exchange after euro notes and coins arrive. The expected gains will be much greater than the costs of printing the new euro notes. |  Read Introduction of euro boosts Irish budget The Irish government is to bolster next year's budget by recouping from the central bank the one-off profits it is set to make on the introduction of euro notes and coins. |  Read Economists speculate on euro psychology At least one thing in Spain will be cheaper in January because of the introduction of new euro notes and coins. A ticket for the country's largest lottery, run by the national association for the blind (ONCE), will cost just E1.00, or 166 old pesetas, instead of 200 pesetas or E1.20. |  Read Ulster border town ready to welcome the euro From January, locals in the Northern Ireland town of Newry will have another coin in their pockets as euros start to seep across the border from the Irish Republic on what is one of only three eurozone land borders within the European Union. |  Read High-value notes spark concern Carrefour, the large French-based retail group, has urged only small-scale distribution of high-denomination euro notes in the first months after the January 1 changeover to euro notes and coins, claiming the move would minimise confusion for shoppers. |  Read Europe's new currency shakes up a continent's mattresses As the European Central Bank prepares for the official launch of its new euro notes, there are signs that the holders of an estimated E120bn equivalent of hoarded old currency notes have also been busily getting ready for the change. |  Read Arrival of euro cash 'will be economic non-event' Deutsche Bank, Germany's biggest bank, has warned against overestimating the potential disruption generated by the change to euro cash at the start of next year |  Read Germany seeks to calm euro jitters The Bundesbank sought to reassure the German public that the launch of euro banknotes and coins next January would not result in higher prices. |  Read Euro may deliver spending boom The introduction of euro notes and coins on January 1 could lead to a spending boom as consumers use their hoarded cash to buy Swiss watches, jewellery and fine wine, UBS Warburg has predicted. |  Read