Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-08-10

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek athlete Kenderis wins 200m gold in world championships

[02] PM congratulates Kenderis on 200m gold in Edmonton

[03] Athens Stock Exchange opening: bourse nosing up

[04] Weather Forecast: Hot and sunny on Friday

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

[01] Greek athlete Kenderis wins 200m gold in world championships

EDMONTON (ANA) - Greece's Olympic champion Costas Kenderis confirmed his world-class status on Friday with a masterful victory in the 200m race at the World Athletics Championships in Canada.

Conserving his energy in the first lap, Kenderis put on speed in the second and outstripped his rivals with several strides to spare to finish in 20 minutes 4 seconds. Second and third place were sorely contested, with two athletes sharing the silver medal with a time of 20 minutes 20 seconds.

Commenting on the winning race, coach Christos Tzekos said it had helped prove that Kenderis' medal in Sydney had not been a fluke and that the athlete was more than a 'one-race wonder'.

"We are beginning to become established as world-class Greek athletes abroad and I think we are no longer doubted," Tzekos said.

[02] PM congratulates Kenderis on 200m gold in Edmonton

Prime Minister Costas Simitis sent a congratulatory telegram to Olympic medallist Costas Kenderis on Friday for his victory in the 200m race at the World Athletics Championships in Edmonton, Canada.

"Your tireless struggle, methodical preparation and, above all, your self-confidence have given you a well-earned first place," the telegram read.

Kenderis won the gold in the 200m with a time of 20 min 4 sec earlier on Friday.

[03] Athens Stock Exchange opening: bourse nosing up

Equity prices were rising tentatively at the opening of trade Friday on the Athens Stock Exchange, with the general index up 0.44 percent at 2,646.52 points and turnover at 7.0 million euro.

Individual sector indices were mostly moving up, except for participations which was down 0.27 percent. The biggest gains were in the textiles index, up 1.19 per cent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 0.45 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 0.43 percent, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP index was up 0.51 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 168 were up, 43 were down and 167 were unchanged.

[04] Weather Forecast: Hot and sunny on Friday

Sunshine and high temperatures are forecast throughout the country on Friday, with cloud forming from evening in the northern Ionian, Epirus and western Macedonia. Winds northerly, light to moderate, intermittently turning strong in parts of the Aegean. On the mainland and in the Ionian, temperatures will range from 21C to 38C; and in the Aegean islands from 25C to 35C. Sunny in Athens with temperatures between 24C and 39C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 22C to 37C.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

Indicative buying rates

U.S. dollar 381.835

German mark 172.829

French franc 051.531

Pound sterling 542.224

Irish punt 429.202

Belgian franc 008.379

Luxembourg franc 008.379

Dutch guilder 153.389

Italian lira (100) 017.457

Austrian schilling 024.565

Danish kroner 45.420

Swedish kroner 36.848

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 309.660

Swiss franc 224.502

Norwegian kroner 042.332

Cyprus pound 589.278

Canadian dollar 248.831

Australian dollar 197.273

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article