Euro cheques, electronic transfers, banking, etc.) at midnight on 1 January 1999, when the national currencies of participating countries (the eurozone) ceased to exist independently. Their exchange rates were locked at fixed rates against each other. The euro thus became the successor to the European Currency Unit (ECU). The notes and coins for the old currencies, however, continued to be used as legal tender until new euro notes and coins were introduced on 1 January 2002. The changeover period during which the former currencies' notes and coins were exchanged for those of the euro lasted about two months, until 28 February
Euro Currency Index Euro Currency Index, since the competitiveness of European goods in comparison to other countries and trading partners is included in it. On September 13, 2005 Dow Jones & Company published two versions of the index, the Dow Jones Euro Currency Index (DJEURO) and the Dow Jones Euro Currency 5 Index (DJEURO5). Under-lyings of each were 100 points on 31 December 1998. The calculation of the Dow Jones Euro Currency 5 Index was set on 29 August 2008 (last value 121.97 points) and the calculation of the Dow Jones Euro Currency Index on 9 January 2009 (last value 119.41 points). The