Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-12-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Strong earthquake rocks Zakynthos, Kyllini, cracks in buildings

[02] 10,000 leased 'Olympic homes' the target for 2004 Games, reps say

[03] Winter sales to begin on January 13

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, showers on Tuesday

[06] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in steady buying, tracking Europe

[01] Strong earthquake rocks Zakynthos, Kyllini, cracks in buildings reported

A strong earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale rocked the islands of Zakynthos and Kyllini and nearby prefectures early Monday, causing cracks and more extensive damage in several buildings, according to initial reports.

According to the Athens National Observatory's Geodynamic Institute and the Thessaloniki Aristotelion University's Geophysics Laboratory, the quake was recorded at 6:59 a.m. at a distance of 230 kilometres west of Athens, with its epicentre in the sea region between the islands of Zakynthos and Kyllini and an epicentral depth of 18 kilometres. The quake was felt in sections of the surrounding prefectures of Arkadia, Ileia and Corinthia.

Ileia police chief Thanassis Koutroumanis told ANA that cracks have been reported in four homes in the village of Vartholomio, and plaster falling from ceilings in the Vartholomio Highschool and a preserved building in Gastouni village.

Ileia prefect Stefanos Adaos added later that damages had been reported in both new and old structures, including the Post-Byzantine Church of Aghia Eleoussa in Pyrgos.

He said that the earthquake had caused additional damage to some buildings already damaged from seismic activity in Vartholomio about two months ago.

[02] 10,000 leased 'Olympic homes' the target for 2004 Games, reps say

Representatives of the two groups selected to manage a ?residence leasing programme? for the 2004 Athens Olympics put the number of private homes needed around the greater Athens area for the upcoming Summer Olympics at 10,000.

Moreover, representatives of the ?Alpha Filoxenia (hospitality) 2004? and the ?Elliniki Filoxenia? consortia said rates will begin at 30 to 35 euros per bed, an net figure for prospective participants/home owners in the programme.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Athens 2004 organising committees (ATHOC) headquarters on Monday, Alpha Filoxenia and Elliniki Filoxenia representatives said the programme would commence early next year.

ATHOC officials, meanwhile, said they were optimistic the initiative would be successful, following a months-long period of deliberations -- both in Greece and with the International Olympic Committee -- on how to solve a ?hospitality shortage? for tens of thousands of tourists expected to attend the Games.

According to an ATHOC official, the ?residence leasing programme? will cover the period of July 10, 2004 to Sept. 10, 2004, with residences leased for as little as three days and at most two months.

[03] Winter sales to begin on January 13

The winter sales are to begin on January 13 and end on February 28, the development ministry said in a statement on Monday.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 0.995

Pound sterling 0.643

Danish kroner 7.485

Swedish kroner 9.079

Japanese yen 124.1

Swiss franc 1.489

Norwegian kroner 7.320

Cyprus pound 0.577

Canadian dollar 1.548

Australian dollar 1.779

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, showers on Tuesday

Scattered cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, turning to showers in many areas. Winds variable, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 08C to 16C; in the Ionian and on the rest of the mainland from 10C to 18C; and in the Aegean islands from 13C to 20C. Temperatures in Athens between 13C and 18C; and in Thessaloniki from 11C to 16C.

[06] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in steady buying, tracking Europe

The Athens bourse finished higher on Monday, fuelled by robust sentiment in other European markets, traders said.

The general share index gained 1.07 percent to end at 1,892.78 points. Turnover was 101.5 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 1.18 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 1.71 percent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished 1.79 percent up.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 264 to 72 with 29 issues remaining unchanged.

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