Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-08-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Major fire on Parnitha, above Menidi

[02] Athens Stock Exchange opening: fall

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

[04] Weather Forecast: Hot and sunny on Thursday

[01] Major fire on Parnitha, above Menidi

A major forest fire broke out at 10:30 a.m. on the slopes of Parnitha on Thursday, above the western Athens district of Menidi.

Strong winds have created two fronts, one of which is heading toward Hasia and the other toward Parnitha.

The fire department has sent 100 fire-fighters in 30 vehicles, a force of 30 EMAK emergency services men on foot, six fire-fighting aircraft and two helicopters to battle the blaze.

[02] Athens Stock Exchange opening: fall

Equity prices were falling at the opening of trade Thursday on the Athens Stock Exchange, with the general index down 0.61 percent at 2,619.87 points and turnover at 6.1 million euro.

Individual sector indices were mostly losing ground, except for the textiles sector which was up 0.35 percent. The biggest losses were in the IT and solutions products index, down 1.38 per cent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 0.87 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.56 percent, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP index was down 0.38 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 71 were up, 137 were down and 170 were unchanged.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

Indicative buying rates

U.S. dollar 385.725

German mark 172.829

French franc 051.531

Pound sterling 546.345

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 45.413

Swedish kroner 36.938

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 313.160

Swiss franc 224.473

Norwegian kroner 042.475

Cyprus pound 589.278

Canadian dollar 251.494

Australian dollar 198.722

[04] Weather Forecast: Hot and sunny on Thursday

Sunshine and high temperatures are forecast throughout the country on Thursday. Winds northerly, light to strong, turning very strong in parts of the Aegean. On the mainland and in the Ionian, temperatures will range from 21C to 37C; and in the Aegean islands from 24C to 37C. Sunny in Athens with temperatures between 24C and 37C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 22C to 35C.

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