Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-10-02

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greek Soccer National League -Result

[02] EU-Transport Council-Merchant Marine Minister-"Samina"

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates-Tuesday

[04] Foreign Exchange Market-Close

[05] Secondary Bond Market-Close

[06] Derivatives Market-Close

[07] Ergodata-large supply order

[08] Commercial Bank of Greece-network expansion

[09] ASE-close

[01] Greek Soccer National League -Result

PAOK Thessaloniki was held to a 1-1 draw by Panionios Athens in a match played in Thessaloniki for the Greek soccer national league on Monday night. PAOK went into the lead with a goal by Tetradze in the 18th minute, but was equalised by Hasiotis in the 67th. In the last five minutes of the game two shots bounced off Panionios' bars and denied PAOK victory.

Standings after three rounds played: Olympiakos Piraeus 7 points, AEK Athens 7, Panathinaikos Athens 7, Aris Thessaloniki 7, PAOK Thessaloniki 5, Xanthi 5, Iraklis Thessaloniki 4, Ionikos Piraeus 4, Ethnikos Asteras 4 and Panahaiki Patras 4.

[02] EU-Transport Council-Merchant Marine Minister-"Samina"

LUXEMBOURG (ANA - M. Spinthourakis) - Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis, addressing the European Union Council of Transport Ministers on Monday, said the Greek government's policy is aimed at modernising the country's coastal shipping fleet and that "it will soon be submitting a law on the deregulation of passenger shipping."

At the end of the meeting, which focused on shipping safety, Papoutsis said that at its start the French EU Presidency, the European Commission and all member-states expressed their solidarity and sincere condolences over the sea tragedy which occurred in Greece late Tuesday night off the coast of the island of Paros and cost the life of at least 79 persons.

Papoutsis referred to the tragedy and expressed the Greek government's will and commitment to have ample light shed on the causes of the tragedy and to have responsibilities apportioned.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates-Tuesday

Tuesdays rates (buying)

Euro 336.635

U.S. dollar 381.622

German mark 172.119

French franc 051.320

Pound sterling 562.861

Irish punt 427.439

Belgian franc 008.345

Luxembourg franc 008.345

Dutch guilder 152.758

Italian lira (100) 017.386

Austrian schilling 024.465

Danish kroner 045.172

Swedish kroner 039.466

Finnish mark 056.618

Spanish peseta 002.024

Portuguese escudo 001.679

Japanese yen (100) 352.021

Swiss franc 220.933

Norwegian kroner 041.922

Cyprus pound 588.712

Canadian dollar 253.516

Australian dollar 207.492

[04] Foreign Exchange Market-Close

The drachma on Monday ended lower against the euro and the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 339.350 drachmas from 339.320 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fix, the dollar was set at 384.700 drachmas from 385.560 drachmas a trading day earlier.

[05] Secondary Bond Market-Close

Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished higher in heavy across-the-board trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.024 percent from 6.039 percent in the last session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 79 basis points, same as in the previous trading day.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 150 billion drachmas from 112 billion drachmas in the session before.

Of the total, buy orders accounted for the bulk of trade.

[06] Derivatives Market-Close

Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Monday, in line with the indices on which they are based.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.08 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 1.09 percent lower.

Turnover was 16.4 billion drachmas.

A total of 2.889 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 13.8 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 1,167 contracts changed hands on turnover of 2.5 billion drachmas.

[07] Ergodata-large supply order

Ergodata, a member of Quest group of companies, has recently completed the installation of a new telecommunications centre in EFG Eurobank Ergasias's dealing room, worth 200 million drachmas.

The company has also signed a deal, worth 700 million drachmas, to supply EFG Eurobank Ergasias with 100 computer servers and 1,000 computers, part of a programme to upgrade the bank's IT services.

The deal is expected to be completed in 2000.

Ergodata expects its turnover to reach 4.0 billion drachmas this year, a consolidated turnover of 25 billion drachmas and profits of around 2.0 billion drachmas.

[08] Commercial Bank of Greece-network expansion

Commercial Bank of Greece on Monday inaugurated a new branch in Thessaloniki raising its total network to 385 units.

The bank's branch network ranks third in Greece behind National Bank's 610 units and Alpha Bank's 500 units.

[09] ASE-close

Equity prices ended flat the first trading session of the week, reflecting lack of fresh incentives and a shrinking liquidity in the market.

Traders said the general index would continue moving within the 4,100-4,200 level in the short-term because of lack of capital inflows in the market.

Shares in the shipping sector were particularly hit, following a series of maritime accidents in the previous week.

The general index ended 0.05 percent higher at 4,180.91 points, off the day's highs of 4,216.15 points, with turnover a low 67.97 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.08 percent lower at 2,369.78 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 1.09 percent to 529.71 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 594.22 points, off 0.36 percent.

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