Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-10-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Olympics - Organisers - Gov't

[02] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates-Tuesday

[04] ANEK Lines-ship delivery

[05] Nireas Group-new unit

[06] ASE-close

[01] Olympics - Organisers - Gov't

A much-anticipated meeting on Monday between Greek PM Costas Simitis and the head of the Athens 2004 organising committee focused squarely on delineated responsibilities and even cooperation amongst ministries, organisers and other agencies involved in Olympic preparations and related infrastructure works.

The meeting reportedly dissipated, to a large extent, differences of opinion that have arisen recently between certain ministry leaderships and the organising committee regarding specific responsibilities.

Following the two-hour meeting with Simitis, 2004 head Yianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki hinted that certain changes were still necessary in the organising agencys structure.

[02] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

Scattered cloud in the west, north and centre of the country is forecast on Tuesday, with sunshine elsewhere. Winds variable, moderate. Temperatures on the northern mainland will range from 11C to 25C; on the rest of the mainland from 12C to 27C; and in the islands from 15C to 26C. Mostly sunny in Athens with temperatures between 14C and 26C. Light cloud in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 12C to 23C.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates-Tuesday

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

Tuesday's rates (buying)

Euro 336.635

U.S. dollar 395.262

German mark 172.119

French franc 051.320

Pound sterling 571.213

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 045.209

Swedish kroner 039.597

Finnish mark 056.618

Spanish peseta 002.024

Portuguese escudo 001.679

Japanese yen (100) 365.463

Swiss franc 222.570

Norwegian kroner 042.069

Cyprus pound 589.327

Canadian dollar 261.174

Australian dollar 207.874

[04] ANEK Lines-ship delivery

ANEK Lines took hold of one of its two new ferries from Norwegian shipyard Fosen in Trodheim on Monday.

The new vessel "Olympic Champion" was christened by Costas Kenderis, Olympic gold medalist in the 200 metres run in Sydney a month ago.

The second ferry will be delivered in May 2001.

The two orders, with an option for two more vessels, are included in an ANEK's large investment programme, worth more than 150 billion drachmas.

The new ferries will have a maximum speed of 30 knots, total capacity of 32,000 tons and will carry 130 lorries, 120 vehicles, and 1,850 passengers (with 808 of them in luxury cabins).

ANEK Lines's fleet now totals 24 vessels strengthening its presence in the Greek passenger shipping sector.

The company has recently scaled down a decision for a share capital increase plan to 40 billion drachmas. The plan envisages an one-for-two rights' issue.

[05] Nireas Group-new unit

Feedus, a member of Nireas Group, on Monday inaugurated a new fish meal production unit, one of the most advanced production units in the Ahaia prefect.

The new unit, of a total investment value of 2.5 billion drachmas, is equipped with the most updated technology and has a production capacity of 30,000 tonnes daily.

Sales are expected to reach 2.0 billion drachmas this year, with the aim to total 5.5 billion in 2001.

[06] ASE-close

Equity prices rebounded strongly on the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday following a recovery in international stock markets on Friday.

Trader said hopes of an end to the Middle East crisis also boosted sentiment on the market.

The general index ended 2.42 percent higher at 3,790.98 points, off the day's highs of 3,830.70 points, recovering a small part of its 8.09 percent loss recorded in the previous five sessions. Turnover, however, remained a low 60.15 billion drachmas, denting hopes for a short-term recovery in the market.

Shares in the construction sector scored the biggest percentage gains, while smaller capitalisation stocks also benefited from comments that the sector was undervalued following a 18.7 percent drop the previous week and a 70 percent decline since the start of the year.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 2.22 percent higher at 2,159.89 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index rose 3.18 percent to 567.78 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended 5.70 percent higher at 482.39 points.

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