Hoy newspaper reports that economist Eduardo Tejera and business leader Celso Marranzini have issued calls for the government to ensure that the dollar exchange market not be subject to manipulation by speculators. The rate fell slightly below the record RD$40-to-US$1 mark yesterday to RD$39.50, in reaction to the news that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund were to resume. Tejera described a situation whereby a handful of people could be controlling the dollar-peso rate by withholding dollars from the exchange market and that the exchange rate sector was badly in need of reform. Hoy also quotes businessman Quirilio Vilorio Caminero, who said that the government should enforce the rule that forbids exchange houses to retain currency for more than 24 hours. He asked why these few individuals were allowed to profit from the situation, while the general public was suffering such a decrease in purchasing power. Celso Marranzini, for his part, said in a television interview yesterday that exchange houses should be obliged to sell their remaining dollars to the Central Bank at the end of each day’s trading. Such a proposal already exists, but is not in effect. The measure would stabilize the exchange rate, said Marranzini, and lower the price of the dollar. His formula for restoring macro-economic stability is fiscal reform: “Economic policy cannot go on consisting of ‘one step forwards two steps backwards.'”