They argued that the exchange house was the property of the Central Bank and could not be transferred.

By 2003, it has also added Australia when it acquired a local exchange house.

There are exchange houses located near most major hotels.

Outside the major cities, a good supply of Venezuelan currency is necessary, as it may be difficult to find exchange houses.

Even at that rate, most exchange houses said they were out of dollars.

"The market doesn't believe in the Government anymore," said the owner of one exchange house.

The best place to change dollars is at any bank or one of the commercial exchange houses.

At the close of the business day, foreign exchange houses offered 1,700 australs for each dollar.

Many European foreign exchange houses had already closed for the weekend when Washington released the data.

The brothers transformed their father's commission and exchange house into a major private bank.