Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-08-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Stephanopoulos to visit Serbia-Montenegro on October 14

[02] Northern Greece fuel truck onwers suspend their strike

[03] New Olympic rowing centre opens this week

[04] PMI index rises in July

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[06] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, showers on Saturday

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise to hit new year's high

[01] President Stephanopoulos to visit Serbia-Montenegro on October 14

President Kostis Stephanopoulos will visit Serbia-Montenegro on October 14, while in the framework of the visit a business meeting will be convened in Belgrade with joint chambers of commerce, business agencies and independent businessmen from the United States, Greece and Serbia-Montenegro.

Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos chaired a meeting on Friday on organising this business council.

An announcement by the foreign ministry said interest in participation has already been shown by businesses and agencies from Canada and the Netherlands as well.

The idea of a business meeting was created during meetings Loverdos had in Washington and New York with American businessmen, who requested the assistance and cooperation of the Greek government and of Greek businesses to probe possible business opportunities in the Balkans, the announcement added.

[02] Northern Greece fuel truck onwers suspend their strike

The general assembly of the Northern Greece fuel truck owners union on Thursday decided to suspend a strike begun earlier in the week.

The decision was taken during an early evening session, which was also attended by Macedonia-Thrace Minister Haris Kastanidis.

[03] New Olympic rowing centre opens this week

The long-awaited Schinias Olympic Rowing & Canoeing Centre, east of Athens, opens its doors on Saturday only days before its hosts the first Olympic ?test events? of 2003 next week.

Some 557 athletes from 45 countries are set to participate at the FISA 2003 world junior rowing championships this month, with a parade of athletes set for Monday at 7:30 p.m. (17:30 GMT), while a press centre will open on the same day.

[04] PMI index rises in July

The rate of increase in domestic manufacturing accelerated slightly in July to 51.1 points from 51.0 points the previous month, according to the Greece Purchasing Managers' (PMI) Index released on Friday.

The index's 50-point mark separates acceleration from slowdown.

The monthly index is the outcome of a survey of 300 companies carried out by NTC Research of the United Kingdom in conjunction with the Greek Procurements Institute.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.125

Pound sterling 0.701

Danish kroner 7.489

Swedish kroner 9.304

Japanese yen 135.7

Swiss franc 1.542

Norwegian kroner 8.222

Cyprus pound 0.592

Canadian dollar 1.583

Australian dollar 1.739

[06] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, showers on Saturday

Scattered cloud is forecast all parts of the country, with rain and storms likely on the mainland. Winds variable, light. In the north, temperatures will range from 17C to 29C; on the rest of the mainland from 20C to 32C; and in the Aegean from 23C to 34C. Temperatures in Athens between 23C and 32C; and in Thessaloniki from 21C to 29C.

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise to hit new year's high

The Athens bourse finished higher on Friday to hit a new year's high, traders said.

The general share index gained 0.77 percent to end at 2,175.19 points. Turnover was 219.9 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.19 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 1.92 percent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with gains of 1.82 percent.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 251 to 88 with 30 issues remaining unchanged.

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