Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-06-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek president meets leaders of Russian political parties

[02] National Bank of Greece to cut rates Jul.3

[03] Stephanopoulos tops all-time Greek popularity ratings

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates-Thursday

[05] Weather Forecast-Thursday

[06] Stock Market-Close

[01] Greek president meets leaders of Russian political parties

MOSCOW (ANA - D. Constantakopoulos) - President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, currently carrying out the first official visit by a Greek president to Russia, on Wednesday asked his Russian hosts for their assistance in curbing Turkish and Turkish Cypriot intransigence over Cyprus, so that a solution to the island republic's protracted problem will fall in line with UN resolutions.

According to diplomatic sources, Stephanopoulos made this request during a working breakfast with the leaders of the Russian political parties at the Greek Embassy in Moscow.

Later in the day, Stephanopoulos left Moscow and headed for St Petersburg.

[02] National Bank of Greece to cut rates Jul.3

National Bank of Greece, a blue chip on the Athens bourse, on Wednesday announced that it will lower its loan and deposit rates following a reduction in central bank intervention rates the same day.

National's rate decline is effective on July 7.

Among rates set to drop are the state-run bank's operating capital lending rate to 9.50 percent from 10.0 percent; its floating rate consumer loans to 13.00 percent from 14.25 percent; floating rate housing loans to 9.25 percent from 9.75 percenty; and its savings deposit rate to 5.50 percent from 6.00 percent.

[03] Stephanopoulos tops all-time Greek popularity ratings

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos currently commands the highest popularity rating ever recorded for any person in Greek public and social life, according to the latest opinion poll.

The survey, conducted by MRB on behalf of Mega TV channel, gives Stephanopoulos an 82.4 percent approval rating, 8.4 percent more than six months ago and nine percent more than Archbishop of Athens Christodoulos whose rating has receded. Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and Foreign Minister George Papandreou follow in third and fourth place, with 66.9 percent and 57.8 percent respectively.

The poll, the first after the April 9 election and gives a 0.3 percent lead to New Democracy over the ruling PASOK party, while Prime Minister Costas Simitis and main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis are about equally popular, with 43.7 percent and 44.2 percent ratings respectively.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates-Thursday

Following are indicative foreign exchange rates released by the central bank for the next working day.

Thursdays rates (buying)

Euro 333.887

U.S. dollar 354.888

German mark 170.714

[05] Weather Forecast-Thursday

Sunshine and scattered cloud are forecast throughout the country on Thursday. Winds will be northerly, light to strong, with high winds in parts of the southern Aegean.

[06] Stock Market-Close

The Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) fell in moderate trade on Wednesday in the wake of a jump in the previous session and declines for six days before that.

The ASE's general share index ended at 4,098.09points, down 1.80 percent. Turnover was 154.7 billion drachmas.

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