diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 96b6534b..f3dd69e5 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-    - split out compiling code to separate class for faster
-      template execution time (Monte)
-    - added unregister_modifier, documented (Monte)
-    - added unregister_function, documented (Monte)
-    - added fetch function, documented (Monte)
-    - added math function, documented (Monte)
+    - added 'first' and 'last' section properties. (Andrei)
+    - split out compiling code to separate class for faster template execution
+      time (Monte)
+    - added and documented unregister_modifier() and unregister_function() API
+      calls. (Monte)
+    - added and documented 'fetch' and 'math' functions. (Monte)
     - added ability to index looped variables by section properties, e.g.
       $foo.index_prev/bar. (Andrei)
     - added index_prev and index_next section properties. (Andrei)
diff --git a/Smarty_Compiler.class.php b/Smarty_Compiler.class.php
index fcbec211..8c294f3f 100644
--- a/Smarty_Compiler.class.php
+++ b/Smarty_Compiler.class.php
@@ -491,6 +491,8 @@ function _compile_section_start($tag_args)
     $output .= "{$section_props}['rownum'] = {$section_props}['index'] + 1;\n";
     $output .= "{$section_props}['index_prev'] = {$section_props}['index'] - 1;\n";
     $output .= "{$section_props}['index_next'] = {$section_props}['index'] + 1;\n";
+	$output .= "{$section_props}['first']      = ({$section_props}['index'] == 0);\n";
+	$output .= "{$section_props}['last']       = ({$section_props}['index'] == {$section_props}['loop']-1);\n";
 
     $output .= "?>";
 
diff --git a/libs/Smarty_Compiler.class.php b/libs/Smarty_Compiler.class.php
index fcbec211..8c294f3f 100644
--- a/libs/Smarty_Compiler.class.php
+++ b/libs/Smarty_Compiler.class.php
@@ -491,6 +491,8 @@ function _compile_section_start($tag_args)
     $output .= "{$section_props}['rownum'] = {$section_props}['index'] + 1;\n";
     $output .= "{$section_props}['index_prev'] = {$section_props}['index'] - 1;\n";
     $output .= "{$section_props}['index_next'] = {$section_props}['index'] + 1;\n";
+	$output .= "{$section_props}['first']      = ({$section_props}['index'] == 0);\n";
+	$output .= "{$section_props}['last']       = ({$section_props}['index'] == {$section_props}['loop']-1);\n";
 
     $output .= "?>";