More than one hundred British business leaders have signed a statement calling for Britain to join the European Single Currency as soon as possible after it is launched in January next year.

The statement -- published in the Financial Times newspaper -- says membership of the single currency will promote trade, investment and economic growth, while a decision to remain indefinitely outside woud pose a serious threat to future prosperity.

The companies involved have an estimated stock market value of about three-hundred-and-sixty billion dollars, equivalent to a quarter of Britain's gross domestic product.