Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-10-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece-Yugoslavia-PM Simitis

[02] Cabinet-Passenger shipping-Decisions

[03] Strikes-Banks-Hospital Doctors-Bus Drivers

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates-Friday

[05] Weather Forecast-Friday

[06] Greece-Ukraine-protocol

[07] Greece-banks-activities

[08] Imaco Group-internet portal

[09] ASE-close

[01] Greece-Yugoslavia-PM Simitis

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Thursday appealed for "coolheadedness and responsibility" in Yugoslavia and called for the will of the people to be respected.

Speaking to the press after a meeting with relevant ministers, Simitis expressed hope that the situation in Belgrade would develop smoothly and calmly. "All sides should demonstrate cool-headedness and responsibility...but the will of the people of Yugoslavia must be respected."

Greece, the premier said, has always supported the establishment of close relations between Yugoslavia and the European Union and will continue to work towards this direction.

[02] Cabinet-Passenger shipping-Decisions

The cabinet decided on Thursday on a series of measures to modernise domestic passenger shipping, during a special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, among them the lifting of cabotage, allowing free competition in domestic passenger shipping, by 2002.

It was also announced that the age limit on passenger ships serving domestic routes would be gradually reduced to 30 years, compared to the current 35 years, while an internal affairs service will be established at the merchant marine ministry.

Also, the port authority corps will be reinforced, a general secretariat of ports will be established while a network of volunteers to work on rescue efforts and pollution incidents will be created.

The measures were announced following a tragic shipwreck in the Aegean last week which claimed the lives of 79 people.

[03] Strikes-Banks-Hospital Doctors-Bus Drivers

Bank workers, hospital doctors and Athens bus drivers are begininng strike action on Monday to demand higher pay, better terms of employment and improved social insurance.

Bank personnel and hospital doctors will stage strikes on Monday and Tuesday and Athens bus drivers will walk off the job on Tuesday.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates-Friday

Indicative rates released by the central bank for the next working day.

Fridays rates (buying)

Euro 336.665

U.S. dollar 385.878

German mark 172.134

French franc 051.324

Pound sterling 560.559

Irish punt 427.477

Belgian franc 008.346

Luxembourg franc 008.346

Dutch guilder 152.772

Italian lira (100) 017.388

Austrian schilling 024.467

Danish kroner 045.176

Swedish kroner 039.374

Finnish mark 056.623

Spanish peseta 002.024

Portuguese escudo 001.679

Japanese yen (100) 353.261

Swiss franc 221.652

Norwegian kroner 041.858

Cyprus pound 589.585

Canadian dollar 257.523

Australian dollar 207.328

[05] Weather Forecast-Friday

Cloudy weather is forecast throughout the country on Friday, turning to rain or storms in most areas. Winds will be variable, light to moderate. In the north temperatures will range from 14C to 23C; on the rest of the mainland from 16C to 28C; and in the islands from 18C to 27C. Showery in Athens, with temperatures between 20C and 26C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 18C to 23C.

[06] Greece-Ukraine-protocol

Greek and Ukrainian employers' unions on Wednesday signed a cooperation protocol aiming to boost bilater business relations.

The protocol was signed by the chairman of the Federation of Greek Industries, Lefteris Antonakopoulos and the vice-chairman of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Enterpreneurs-ULIE, S.Chebotar.

Bilateral trade totalled 118.1 million US dollars in 1999. Greek exports to Ukraine mainly comprised of fuel, tobacco and chemicals, while Ukrainian exports accounted for minerals, fuel, iron and steel products.

Greek businesses operating in Ukraine mainly focused in shipping, trade, tourism, transport, foods and telecommunications.

[07] Greece-banks-activities

Greek commercial banks are increasingly adopting the use of internet, mobile telephony, automatic cash machines, call centers and digital television in expanding their banking services and to strengthen their position in the domestic market.

Greek banks, however, continue expanding their networks beyond the Athens area and launche new smaller-in size but more flexible-in operation branches.

Their attention is now focusing in promoting and selling modern banking products and to offering consulting services to customer-investors.

[08] Imaco Group-internet portal

Imaco Group, a listed media company, on Thursday presented a restructured version of its internet portal Thea.gr., a product of Powernet, Imaco's subsidiary.

The company has decided to re-design its portal after eight months in operation, launching a new series of electronic services, including online stock market transactions in cooperation with Hellenic Trade.

Thea.gr. will also offer users e-shop and auction services.

[09] ASE-close

Equity prices remained under pressure for the the third consecutive session on the Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday, pushing the general index below the 4,000 level for the first time in the last 15 sessions.

Traders said the market tried to resist pressures early in the session, pushing the index 0.80 percent up, but lack of follow-through buying and a shrinking liquidity reversed its course later in the day.

Analysts said the market would find strong support at the 3,900 level.

The general index ended 1.30 percent lower at 3,958.65 points, with turnover a low 61.81 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 2,243.38 points, off 1.39 percent, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 1.50 percent to 496.40 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 544.65 points, off 1.94 percent.

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