Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] George Papandreou congratulates Turkey's newly appointed FM

[02] ''Athens 2004'' briefs World Youth Greek expatriate campers on

[03] Saturday weather - Sunny all over the country

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[05] Greek stocks fall to new lows for the year

[01] George Papandreou congratulates Turkey's newly appointed FM

Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Friday addressed a message to newly appointed Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Sukru Sina Gurel.

?I would like to convey to you my sincere congratulations on the occasion of your appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. I seize this opportunity to express the hope that relations between our two countries will continue to improve along the lines of the initiatives that have been undertaken to the mutual benefit of our two peoples, in the context of joint efforts to promote good faith and cooperation as well as stability in our region as a whole?, the Greek ministers message said.

Sukru Sina Gurel, who had been in charge of the Cyprus affairs portfolio, replaced former Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who resigned on Thursday as part of a string of Turkish cabinet resignations prompted by the failing health of Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

[02] ''Athens 2004'' briefs World Youth Greek expatriate campers on voluntarism

The Olympic Games 2004 Voluntary Work Programme on Friday was presented to campers at the World Youth Camp 2002, in Posidi, Chalkidiki, at the request of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) and the Youth Network.

With the assistance of audiovisual technology, members the Olympic Games Organising Committee ?Athens 2004? informed young campers about the principles of voluntary work and explained the process that they could follow to assist volunteers at the 2004 Olympics.

Hellenes abroad constitute the most dynamic segment for voluntary work during the Olympic Games, ?Athens 2004? representatives said.

Similar presentations are also scheduled to take place during the second camping period of the World Youth Camp 2002.

[03] Saturday weather - Sunny all over the country

Sunny throughout Greece on Saturday with a chance of scattered cloud later in the day in the Macedonia and Thrace. Northerly winds, moderate to strong on the Aegean. Temperatures in northern Greece between 19C to 38C, on the rest of the mainland 22C to 35C, and on the islands 24C to 33C. Sunny in Athens with temperatures ranging between 25C to 38C. Sunny early on for Thessaloniki, but later in the day there will be showers and temperatures from 23C to 36C.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro until Monday

U.S. dollar 0.995

Pound sterling 0.643

Danish kroner 7.487

Swedish kroner 9.301

Japanese yen 116.6

Swiss franc 1.479

Norwegian kroner 7.387

Cyprus pound 0.582

Canadian dollar 1.518

Australian dollar 1.778

[05] Greek stocks fall to new lows for the year

Greek stocks failed to follow a recovery trend in other European markets on Friday, to end at a new record-low for the year in the Athens Stock Exchange.

Blue chip stocks, like Alpha Bank and National Bank fell to their lowest levels in the last four years, reflecting mild selling pressures and lack of buying interest in the market.

The general index ended 0.27 percent lower at 2,137.40 points, after climbing as much as 1.0 percent in intra-day trade.

Turnover was an improved 81.1 million euros.

The Construction, Holding and Food-Beverage sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (1.87 percent, 1.13 percent and 0.95 percent, respectively), while the Banks, Telecom and Publication sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (1.12 percent, 0.69 percent and 0.48 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.66 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 0.51 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.35 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 147 to 130 with another 74 issues unchanged.

The general index ended the week with a net loss of 2.75 percent.

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