Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-06-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece, Bulgaria discuss tourism policy in the Balkans

[02] Emporiki Bank dismisses reports of merger deal with National Bank

[03] Greece to suffer heatwave in coming days

[04] Hellas Jet launches flights to European capitals

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[06] Weather Forecast: Hot and sunny on Friday

[07] Greek stocks end flat on Thursday

[01] Greece, Bulgaria discuss tourism policy in the Balkans

Greece's National Tourist Organisation (GNTO) chairman, Yiannis Patellis, on Thursday met with visiting Bulgarian Deputy Finance Minister Dimitar Hatzinikolov and discussed ways of jointly promoting gastronomy, cultural and farm tourism in the Balkans, in the framework of a recently signed agreement for interbalkan tourist development and cooperation.

The two men agreed, among others, to include all Balkan states and the World Tourism Organisation in an international conference to be held by the Ionian Islands Region on ''Interbalkan Tourist-Cultural Development and Promoting Cultural Tourism'', September 18.

[02] Emporiki Bank dismisses reports of merger deal with National Bank

Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis on Thursday met with Emporiki Bank's chairman Yiannis Stournaras to discuss the bank's course.

A ministry statement said that Greece's Public Securities Company (DEKA) held a total of 8,085,712 Emporiki Bank's shares in its portfolion, accounting for 9.46 percent of the bank's total equity capital. The ministry stressed that this equity holding facilitated, in cooperation with Emporiki Bank's management, moves to further strengthen the Greek bank.

Speaking to reporters, after the meeting, Mr Stournaras dismissed recent press reports over a merger deal between Emporiki Bank and National Bank, or any other bank.

[03] Greece to suffer heatwave in coming days

Following notification by the meteorological service on Thursday that high temperatures are expected to prevail throughout the country over the next few days, the Health Ministry has called on health departments to be on the alert to deal with any problems which may arise from the heatwave.

All hospitals must have air conditioning in all rooms and staff must be ready to offer immediate help to patients when necessary.

[04] Hellas Jet launches flights to European capitals

Hellas Jet, a new airline, said on Thursday that it launched daily flights this week to London, Paris and Brussels.

The airline will shortly begin flights to Zurich, and other destinations are to be introduced over the next two years, Hellas Jet said in a statement.

The airline's website address is www.hellas-jet.com, the statement added.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.152

Pound sterling 0.692

Danish kroner 7.485

Swedish kroner 9.259

Japanese yen 136.8

Swiss franc 1.551

Norwegian kroner 8.331

Cyprus pound 0.589

Canadian dollar 1.559

Australian dollar 1.731

[06] Weather Forecast: Hot and sunny on Friday

Sunshine is forecast in all parts of the country. Isolated storms may break out on the northern and central mainland. Winds northerly, light to moderate, turning strong in the southeastern Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 17C to 35C; on the rest of the mainland from 19C to 37C; and in the islands from 23C to 34C. Temperatures in Athens will range between 24C and 37C; and in Thessaloniki from 20C to 34C.

[07] Greek stocks end flat on Thursday

Greek stocks ended Thursday's session mixed after spending much of day moving in tight rates, reflecting lack of fresh incentives in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The general index ended at 1,906.45 points, unchanged from Wednesday's closing, while turnover was a steady 142.6 million euros.

The Publication, IT and Construction sector scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (1.39 percent, 1.38 percent and 0.78 percent, respectively), while the Textile, Holding and Insurance sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (3.03 percent, 1.56 percent and 1.21 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.18 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.24 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.46 percent. The wider FTSE/ASE 140 index ended 0.12 percent up.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 201 to 111 with another 49 issues unchanged.

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