Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-08-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't gives Dr 35 bln to train jobless in 2001-2003

[02] Foreign exchange rates - Wednesday

[03] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Wednesday

[04] Large catch - Sharks - Crete

[05] Greek stocks end flat on ASE

[01] Gov't gives Dr 35 bln to train jobless in 2001-2003

The government on Tuesday finalised a 35-billion-drachma plan to train the unemployed in 2001-2003 as part of its strategy of combatting joblessness.

Endorsed by Labour and Social Security Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, the training scheme is to receive 75 percent of funds from the European Union's Third Community Support Framework package.

The move is part of an EU and national plan to prevent and combat unemployment, especially long-term joblessness.

The plan focuses on better using human resources, fostering business-oriented attitudes, helping company management and staff adapt to new market conditions, and providing equal opportunities in the labour market.

[02] Foreign exchange rates - Wednesday

Indicative buying rates

U.S. dollar 370.299

German mark 172.829

French franc 051.531

Pound sterling 536.208

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 45.391

Swedish kroner 35.841

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 308.986

Swiss franc 222.887

Norwegian kroner 041.620

Cyprus pound 589.003

Canadian dollar 239.610

Australian dollar 197.559

[03] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Wednesday

Mostly sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country on Wednesday with scattered cloud from evening that may turn to rain or storms overnight, mainly in the north. Winds variable, light. On the northern mainland, temperatures will range from 18C to 34C; on the rest of the mainland from 20C to 36C; and in the islands from 22C to 32C. In Athens, the weather will be sunny until evening, with temperatures between 24C and 36C. Same in Thessaloniki, with storms from evening, mainly on high ground. Temperatures from 21C to 34C.

[04] Large catch - Sharks - Crete

A Hania fisherman and his son arrived back in port with a real ?fish tale of a lifetime? on Tuesday morning, as their catch included 14 sharks of varying sizes, with the biggest measuring three metres long and 120 kilos.

?I been professionally fishing since 1974 ... but this was the biggest catch Ive ever made. I knew that these fish (sharks) were damaging our nets, but I never expected this,? Yiannis Kokolakis told local reporters.

The catch was reportedly made north of the Cretan port city of Rethymno, while shark meat is expected to grace many a table on the large island over the next few days, according to reports.

[05] Greek stocks end flat on ASE

Equity prices ended Tuesday's session flat on the Athens Stock Exchange reflecting a shrinking liquidity and lack of fresh incentives in the market.

Traders said prices tried to push ahead early in the session but were hit by profit taking in banks and telecoms shares keeping the general index below the 2,700 level.

The index ended 0.02 percent higher at 2,687.51 points, off the day's highs of 2,707.24 points, with turnover a disappointing 71.11 million euros, or 24.23 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,496.17 points, off 0.16 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index rose 0.25 percent to 310.37 points and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 899.96 points, up 0.48 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 265.10 points, up 0.83 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 203 to 105 with another 48 issues unchanged.

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