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Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-04-12Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Foreign Exchange Rates-Tuesday12/04/2001 19:14:09Tuesday's buying rates U.S. dollar 382.006 German mark 172.829 French franc 051.531 Pound sterling 547.583 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 45.296 Swedish kroner 37.554 Finnish mark 056.852 Spanish peseta 002.032 Portuguese escudo 001.686 Japanese yen (100) 310.111 Swiss franc 222.625 Norwegian kroner 41.873 Cyprus pound 584.136 Canadian dollar 245.126 Australian dollar 193.982 [02] Weather Forecast-Good Friday12/04/2001 18:35:44Unsettled weather is forecast throughout the country on Good Friday, with alternating cloud, sunshine and rain or storms. Winds variable, moderate to strong, turning strong to gale force in the southern Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 7C to 15C; on the rest of the mainland from 10C to 17C; and in the Aegean islands from 13C to 19C. Unsettled in Athens with temperatures between 11C and 17C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 9C to 15C. [03] Greece - Turkey - Defence spending12/04/2001 17:13:42Greeces defence minister was the latest high-ranking government official in Athens this week to express concern over the ongoing financial crisis and accompanying social unrest in neighbouring Turkey. While calling for immediate international assistance towards Ankara, Tsohatzopoulos also warned that such crises harbour ?dangers for the security and stability of all the peoples in the region?. He also cited a projected reduction in Turkeys defence expenditures as a byproduct of the severe economic difficulties in the neighbouring country. The Greek defence minister, who distanced himself from a government decision earlier this month to cut Greeces defence expenditures between the 2001-2004 period including the postponement of the highly touted ?Eurofighter? purchase contract in favour of social spending, noted that his ministry is attempting to restructure the Greek armed forces through technological upgrades, manpower cuts and the slashing of operational costs. In a related development, Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday evening hailed the same-day announcement by Turkey's general staff regarding the postponement of various weapons programmes worth $19.5 billion, saying the decision contributes "to a further detente in bilateral relations" as well as to regional development and stability. Papandreou, who was speaking to reporters after meeting with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, said Ankara's decision is an "important event" for the Turkish people at a time of great economic hardship. He also expressed a hope that it "presages further detente", adding that "maybe later there will be a mutual decrease (in armaments) when conditions will permit this." [04] ASE-close12/04/2001 16:05:17Equity prices ended sharply higher on Thursday, the last trading session before a four-day Easter holiday, pushing the general index above the 3,150 level for the first time in 20 sessions. Traders noted, however, that turnover remained low and stressed that with liquidity conditions so tight the market was vurnerable to short-term selling pressure next week. Buying activity focused on banks and telecommunications. The general index ended 2.35 percent higher at 3,159.47 points, near the day's highs of 3,176.60, with turnover a low 149.67 million euros, or 51 billion drachmas. The FTSE/ASE 20 for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 3.09 percent up to 1,840.38 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index rose 1.14 percent to 372.75 points. The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 326.31 points, up 0.93 percent. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |