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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

[02] EFG Eurobank Ergasias Group shows slight H1 profit rise

[03] Alpha Bank launches new website

[04] Weather Forecast: Hot and sunny on Thursday

[05] Greek stocks remain under pressure, end lower

[01] 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

[02] EFG Eurobank Ergasias Group shows slight H1 profit rise

The EFG Eurobank Ergasias Group, which is listed on the Athens bourse, on Wednesday reported consolidated earnings before tax and after minorities of 61.5 billion drachmas in the first half, up 3.5 percent on the same period of 2000.

First-half consolidated net profits after tax and minorities totalled 42 billion drachmas, up 28.0 percent from the same period of last year, private-sector EFG Eurobank Ergasias said in a statement.

Also in the first half, lending increased by 30 percent on an annualised basis to total 3.2 trillion drachmas, mainly due to a rise in loans to retail customers.

Deposits rose to 5.3 trillion drachmas, up 30 percent on the same period of last year, the statement said.

Assets increased by 24.4 percent to 7.0 trillion drachmas, reflecting a rise in the volume of business, it added.

[03] Alpha Bank launches new website

Alpha Bank, the country's second largest bank and a blue chip on the Athens bourse, on Wednesday presented its upgraded website on www.alpha.gr and www.alphabank.com

The site includes detailed information on the bank's retail and corporate products and services, financial reports and an on-line help desk, Alpha said in a statement.

[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.

[05] Greek stocks remain under pressure, end lower

Equity prices remained under pressure to end lower for the third consecutive session on the Athens Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

Traders said market sentiment remained bearing on the aftermath of disappointing results announced by major commercial banks.

Bank stocks were particularily hit, with National Bank and Eurobank suffering the heaviest losses (2.44% and 2.29% respectively).

The general index ended 1.26 percent lower at 2,635.84 points, off the day's lows of 2,627.14, with analysts predicting that the index would find support within the 2,680-2,730 levels.

Turnover was a disappointing 122.14 million euros, or 41.62 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,478.39 points, off 1.51 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 1.12 percent to 300.58 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 871.37 points, off 0.43 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 257.22 points, off 0.30 percent.

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