Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-05-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Papoulias visits Cosco premises, calls collaboration 'an example of success'

[02] PM calls on young people to stand by citizens in need

[03] ND has taken strong stance against neo-Nazis, PM says in response to poet's concerns

[04] ND calls on coalition partners to support its anti-racism add-on proposal in Parliament

[05] 'Holocaust and genocide denial' part of new ND proposal on anti-racism

[06] ND should support anti-racism bill, PASOK spokesperson

[07] SYRIZA blasts government on anti-racism draft bill; KKE's stance

[08] PASOK, DIM.AR anti-racism draft bill tabled in parliament

[09] DIM.AR calls on main coalition party to vote for anti-racism bill

[10] Anti-racism law 'an important step but up to the state', commissioner spokesperson

[11] Jewish organization calls for anti-racism legislation

[12] FM Avramopoulos holds meeting with Palestinian counterpart

[13] PM to meet Eurogroup president at noon on Friday

[14] Golden Dawn MP's gun goes off, reportedly; DIM.AR responds

[15] Licenses for deputies' weapons to be re-examined

[16] Tsipras in Spain on Thursday

[17] Independent Greeks party leader meets Greek Defence Systems unions

[18] New structure of Armed Forces approved

[19] Greek EU funds' absorption rate up to 56.7 pct

[20] Greek economic sentiment index rises to five-year high, Commission report

[21] Greece climbs in IMD world competitiveness rankings report

[22] Stournaras - Dijsselbloem to meet Friday

[23] PASOK leader says SME's 'backbone' of economy

[24] National Defence minister meets with union reps at shipyards

[25] German Deputy Labour Minister Fuchtel heads business mission to the island of Thassos

[26] German interest in Amyntaio mineral water, wines

[27] Fisheries areas in Evia and Chios receive EU sustainable dev't funding

[28] Eurobank Properties says profits stable in Q1

[29] Russian investors increasingly interested in Greek house market

[30] Hellenic Petroleum reports negative results in Q1

[31] Olympic Brewery says sales up 80 pct in 2012

[32] Delta Air Lines relaunches Athens-NYC flights for the summer

[33] Folli Follie says profits up 7.4 pct in Q1

[34] Greek stocks remain under pressure

[35] Greek bond market closing report

[36] ADEX closing report

[37] Foreign Exchange rates - Friday

[38] Mikis Theodorakis pronounced honorary member of the Academy of Athens

[39] Human trafficker arrested

[40] Large quantity of contraband cigarettes seized

[41] Cloudy on Friday

[42] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] President Papoulias visits Cosco premises, calls collaboration 'an example of success'

Papoulias was accompanied to the main port by Shipping and the Aegean Minister Costis Moussouroulis, and was met by SEP deputy director Angelos Karakostas, managing director Captain Fu Cheng Qiu and Chinese Ambassador to Greece Du Qiwen.

"Your visit to Cosco will give a very important mes-sage to many businesses abroad to come to Greece,

and this is a message we shall convey to the Chinese government," the ambassador said, while Captain Fu Cheng Qiu expressed his appreciation of the visit and added that collaborations not based on trust and honesty do not succeed.

Papoulias was given a tour of the container premises, especially the five new Super-Post Panamax, the largest modern container cranes, recently installed at the port of Piraeus; the works at terminal III, which is expected to be fully operational by July 1 and providing hundreds of jobs at the port, as Karakostas said; and SEP's control room.

"I see all of you are young here," Papoulias told the control room staff, adding that "when conditions are right, employees can be more productive."

In statements following the tour, the president said that the nearly 1,000 employees at the SEP "have good working conditions and are satisfied with their jobs, creating an example of investment collaboration that is very useful to Greeks and investors who want to come to the country, especially Chinese tourists coming to Greece by the thousands."

Moussouroulis said that with its investment in the new cranes, Cosco "verified the strategic position the port of Piraeus holds in the global sea transport system."

[02] PM calls on young people to stand by citizens in need

The event was attended by almost all former ONNED presidents, as well as ministers, MPs and a large number of people. The premier stressed in his address that "we live in a day of vindication, as we see a river of hope in a conflicting environment." He called on young people to hold the flag and the country up high, stressing that young people were the priority for all of the government's work.

Ioannidis said ONNED must become a radical and fighting organisation, stressing that the youth's congress must be focus on principles and positions. He called on Samaras to continue his fight for change and reform, pointing out that young people will always be at the prime minister's side.

[03] ND has taken strong stance against neo-Nazis, PM says in response to poet's concerns

The poet had addressed a personal appeal to the premier the day before expressing his concern over increasing racist and xenophobic violence and the rise of extreme-right party Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi), and calling on the government to do something about it.

"ND and I personally have gave castigated the presence and stance of Golden Dawn publicly throughout the pre-election campaign period of 2012 - in May and June - in the most unequivocal way, and as nobody else has done," Samaras said in his reply, advising that the political world and people should unite against neo-Nazis rather than "let the threat of neo-Nazis divide us."

Greece is the only country in Europe that has to deal with massive illegal immigration, and that has laid the ground for the appearance of neo-Nazis, "an issue that must be dealt with by speaking about it openly instead of villifying those who dare mention it publicly," added the premier.

[04] ND calls on coalition partners to support its anti-racism add-on proposal in Parliament

ND tabled the addition in Parliament on Thursday, the same day its partners tabled the original draft, which a government review committee had judged "unconstitutional" and ND had called unnecessary, as the present laws were termed "adequate".

"Dealing with neo-Nazis requires a sense of responsibility and decisiveness, not party games to impress," ND said, calling the extent of the controversy surrounding the issue "wrong".

"It is a mistake to belittle what exists, as Greece has been a pioneer among many countries in terms of anti-racism legislation," ND noted. "It is a greater mistake to divide the Greek people instead of legislating in a unified way against neo-Nazis. It is obvious that the proposals tabled divide even those who supported them. The greatest mistake is isolating neo-Nazis, giving them further pretexts," it concluded.

[05] 'Holocaust and genocide denial' part of new ND proposal on anti-racism

Tabled in Parliament Thursday, the proposal "makes the existing 1979 law and the Criminal Code provisions stricter" in order to "unify democratic society, instead of dividing it," ND said in a statement giving details.

The first two articles extend the 1979 law, which is currently in effect.

Article 1 calls for jail sentences of 3 months to 3 years and fine of 5,000 euros minimum to 20,000 maximum for "anyone inciting or causing violence and hate against others based on race, skin colour, religon, genetic origin and their national or ethnic origins." It also includes racism or hate propaganda disseminated through the Internet.

The amending second article introduces the same fines as those above for anyone "approving or belittling the seriousness of Nazi crimes, the Jewish Holocaust, and other genocides recognised by the Greek Parliament and Greek or international courts by irreversible decision." This includes the Armenian and Pontic genocides recognised by Greek Parliament. It introduces fines ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 euros, and disqualifies legal entities - political parties included - from any state funding if their legal representatives have been irreversibly sentenced for violation of denial or belittling of the above events.

The state, legal entities of public law state entities - such as the Greek Orthodox Church - and international organisations of public law are exempted from this, according to Article 3.

The fourth article upgrades the seriousness of racism, which is currently considered "aggravating circumstance" to the crime being tried. The proposal obliges the court to examine whether the act was specifically motivated by hatred based on race, colour, religion, genealogical origin, national or ethnic origin of the victim, which would be a crime in itself.

The new proposal does not refer to "hate due to different sexual orientation", which is still considered an "aggravating circumstance".

[06] ND should support anti-racism bill, PASOK spokesperson

PASOK and Democratic Left (DIM.AR), the ruling coalition's junior partners, went ahead Thursday with the tabling of a bill the government had seen as unnecessary, as the existing legal framework had been termed by it as "adequate".

"Let us hope that ND has begun to understand - following the reaction - that it is a great and institutional mistake not to promote the anti-racism bill," Gennimata said.

"We hope it understands soon that in facing neo-Nazism and xenophobia, additions are not enough," she said, referring to the main party's tabling of additions to the current law on Thursday.

[07] SYRIZA blasts government on anti-racism draft bill; KKE's stance

The main opposition party stressed in a statement that the government was "incapable of explaining - even to its minor coalition partners of PASOK and DIMAR -why it recently withdrew the draft bill only to include in it the agenda and positions of the extreme-right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avgi) party, and thus exposing the country internationally."

As far as the PASOK and DIMAR parties are concerned, SYRIZA charges them of "being hostage of the memorandum," and this reveals they are do not intend to doubt the coalition government's cohesion, in this way acknowledging their own "strategic impasse".

On its part, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said in a statement, issued also on Thursday, the stance of the other political parties "on the so-called anti-racism bill only serves petty partisan and electoral interests, not the real need to deal with racism and the organised expression of such ideologies, mainly done in Greece by the Golden Dawn."

[08] PASOK, DIM.AR anti-racism draft bill tabled in parliament

The draft bill was signed by 27 PASOK MPs, with the exception of MP Ahmet Haciosman, and by 14 DIM.AR MPs.

It consists of nine articles and suggests the replacement of Law No 927/1979 with the introduction of an updated and improved legislation aspiring to handle more effectively serious instances of racist and xenophobic behaviours.

PASOK and DIM.AR decided to table the draft bill after a disagreement with coalition partner New Democracy (ND), the largest of the three parties in the coalition government, over the anti-racism bill that was sponsored by Justice Minister Antonis Roupakiotis.

[09] DIM.AR calls on main coalition party to vote for anti-racism bill

The junior members of the ruling coalition, PASOK and DIM.AR, went ahead and tabled on Thursday the anti-racism law a government legal committee had termed unconstitutional. ND said its proposal, tabled the same day, would augment the existing legal framework against racism and xenophobia, as the existing legal framework was "adequate".

"The additions that ND tabled to 1979's law on racism violence verify that the draft law on 'fighting expressions of racism and xenophobia' were and continue to be necessary and imperative," DIM.AR said, calling on ND and all non-extreme parties in Parliament to vote for the bill it had tabled jointly with PASOK.

Separate anti-racism bills introduced by coalition government partners highlight impasses, SYRIZA-EKM says

A main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA-EKM) statement on Thursday noted that the anti-racism bill tabled in parliament by PASOK and DIM.AR, the two junior partners in the coalition government, and the provisions drafted by New Democracy (ND), the largest of the three parties in the coalition government, to be introduced separately and annexed to existing legislation "do not hide the contradictions and the government impasses but, on the contrary, they bring them to the forefront".

According to SYRIZA-EKM, ND is engaging in "amateurish publicity stunts", noting that "the adoption by ND of the ultra-right Chryssi Avgi agenda and positions, that expose the country internationally, cannot be hidden behind additions to the existing legal framework, which ND was forced to make and are inadequate to stop the increase in racist violence".

"PASOK and DIM.AR are memorandum hostages and declare to every direction that they do not intend to question the government cohesion admitting, this way, that they are in strategic dead end," the SYRIZA-EKM statement underlined.

[10] Anti-racism law 'an important step but up to the state', commissioner spokesperson

The spokesperson clarified that the commissioner never intervened in the substance or the processes Greece will follow and has asserted that it is up to the Greek authorities to take a stance on the issue.

[11] Jewish organization calls for anti-racism legislation

A KIS statement underlined that "now, more than ever before in our country's post-war history, it is imperative to combat extreme practices and ideologies".

Proper education is necessary to prevent the society of the future from adopting ideologies that wrote the darkest and most horrible pages in the European history when innocent people, among them 6 million Jews, perished, according to the KIS statement.

[12] FM Avramopoulos holds meeting with Palestinian counterpart

Avramopoulos reminded of the strong ties of friendship and solidarity between the two peoples which, as he said, remain steadfast, adding that Greece was a reliable friend of the Pallestinian people in words and deeds.

The Greek minister said that "the fulfillment of the fair and legitimate pursuit of the Palestinian people to create a country continues to constitute an imperative need and a moral obligation of the international community which must promote the peace process".

Referring to Greece's stance, Avramopoulos said that Greece appreciates in particular the initiative of the US Secretary of State John Kerry on the building of trust and providing a new impetus to the peace process and it is self-evident, as he said, that Greece is prepared to provide its services and facilitate the peace process in whatever way.

"We must do everything possible for the solution of the two countries to become feasible. It is the only solution that corresponds to the fair demands of both peoples: Israel's right for security and the Palestinians' right to establish a state," he said.

On his part, al-Maliki welcomed the Greek minister and referred to the historically friendly relations between the two peoples and reiterated his thanks to Greece for its decision to vote in favour of the upgrading of the Palestinian Authority to a member-state of the UN on November 29, 2012.

Referring to his meeting with Avramopoulos, the Palestinian Foreign minister spoke of a sincere and friendly discussion during which they stressed the mutual desire to further strengthen bilateral relations, as well as the steps that must be followed in the future.

After his meeting with al-Maliki, Avramopoulos was received by President Mahmoud Abbas at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.

[13] PM to meet Eurogroup president at noon on Friday

Developments in the European Union and the course of the Greek economy will be discussed during the meeting.

A luncheon will follow the meeting, to which PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos and Democratic Left (DIM.AR) party leader Fotis Kouvelis have been invited, although it was doubtful whether the latter will be participating due to a personal engagement.

[14] Golden Dawn MP's gun goes off, reportedly; DIM.AR responds

Gregos was about to board the airplane for the northern city of Thessaloniki, his constituency, when the gun went off. He was requested to hand it over and remove the ammunition, per flight regulations.

No injuries were reported.

Responding to the reports, Democratic Left (DIM.AR) junior coalition member said, "No day goes by that Golden Dawn deputies do not provoke with their extremist behaviour and their overall stance," and called on the state to check the gun licences of deputies, "as many of them are involved in legal cases".

[15] Licenses for deputies' weapons to be re-examined

[16] Tsipras in Spain on Thursday

Tsipras is expected to meet with Spanish party leaders, with the president of the Spanish parliament and with former president of the European parliament Josep Borrell Fontelles

He will also hold talks with social movements and he will speak at the meeting of left economists entitled "Which is the Europe we want".

On Saturday, Tsipras will participate in a demonstration in Madrid under the slogan "United against the troika".

[17] Independent Greeks party leader meets Greek Defence Systems unions

"The games with national defence and the country's security are dangerous for the national independence and the territorial integrity of our country," Kammenos said.

The employees briefed Kammenos "on the delay in overdue wages", as well as "for the delaying on the part of the Finance ministry to appoint a new administration at the company".

The Independent Greeks leader criticised the Finance ministry for not appointing a new administration at the comany which, as he said, if it is done will contribute to the factory's smooth operation and secure jobs.

[18] New structure of Armed Forces approved

Speaking after the meeting, Defence Minister Panos Panayiotopoulos said the Armed Forces' restructuring is aimed at the Armed Forces becoming stronger, more flexible, with specific scale savings to increase their preventive capacity further and to respond immediately to the mission assigned to them by the Greek people.

He added that with the new forces structure, combat units are strengthened and the administration structures that do not serve operational needs are reduced. Military bureaucracy is reduced, he said.

According to assessments, the implementation of the new forces structure will be completed in two years, following a transitional stage lasting for a few months.

Panayiotopoulos thanked all who worked to complete this task. He also thanked the thousands of men and women of the Armed Forces who, despite the difficulties and cutbacks, remain faithful to their oath, reiterating that the Greek state being aware of their great contribution will give what is due as soon as the first signs of recovery appear.

Ther Armed Forces' military leadership participated in the meeting.

Financial News

[19] Greek EU funds' absorption rate up to 56.7 pct

The statement noted that the ministry took a series of measures aimed at simplifying procedures and accelerating absorption rate of EU funds in the period October 2012-May 2013. These measures focused on an automatic annulment of credits for project failing to move forward and a re-distribution of funds to other more active projects, offering advance payments to construction groups and simplifying procedures for absorbing community funds.

More analytically, the ministry abolished a 60 pct requirement of necessary signatures for the management of credits in a Public Investment Programe, promoting co-funding of projects by municipal water and sewerage enterprises, introducing a central control of all financial support offered to enterprises, abolishing unnecessary red tape, putting regional authorities as sole responsible for the spending of a Public Investment Programe in their regions and a redistribution of credits through more easier procedures.

Co-funded projects worth more than 15 million euros will be included in a fast-track process.

[20] Greek economic sentiment index rises to five-year high, Commission report

The EU's executive arm said in a report said that the economic sentiment index also grew also in Spain and Portugal in May.

In the eurozone, the economic sentiment index rose 0.8 points to 89.4 points, exceeding market forecasts and allowing a small hope for an economic recovery later this year.

The index rose in the five largest economies in the eurozone - Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Holland - with all sectors recording improvements except for the construction sector.

[21] Greece climbs in IMD world competitiveness rankings report

The IMD, in a report released by the Federation of Northern Greece Industries (SBBE) on Thursday, said that Greece recorded significant improvement in business efficiency (up nine places to 47th), although the country fell to the 59th place, from 58th last year, the worst ranking since 1999.

The rankings are based on a synthesis of a country's performance in four main categories: economic performance, government efficiency (56th from 58th in 2012), business efficiency and infrastructure (35th in 2013 from 34th in 2012).

Greece ranks sixth among the 60 countries included in the survey based on the skills of its workforce and 10th on tourism revenues, while the country ranked 19th on exports and fifth measured on the skills and efficiency of its engineers. On the other hand, Greece ranked at the bottom in GDP per capita growth, 59th in attracting foreign direct investments and general government debt. It was 58th in youth unemployment.

IMD said the Greek economy faced five main challenges to improving its competitiveness this year: rapid implementation of structural reforms to cut public sector spending, boosting liquidity/competitiveness of enterprises, restructuring a tax system, reducing bureaucracy and combating corruption in the public sector.

IMD said the US, Switzerland and Hong Kong were the most competitive countries in the world this year.

[22] Stournaras - Dijsselbloem to meet Friday

[23] PASOK leader says SME's 'backbone' of economy

According to a PASOK press release, the meeting focused on "all problems faced by small and medium-sized enterprises and which constitute the daily agony of the Greek market regarding the resistance of small enterprise [to the crisis] and the safeguarding of existing jobs."

"Small enterprises were and will be, in the new growth model as well, the backbone of the Greek economy, the sector where entrepreneurship, innovation and cooperation can really flourish, safeguarding existing jobs and creating new ones," Venizelos said after the meeting, adding that the state's obligation was to eliminate all bureaucratic obstacles and establish suitable and far-sighted taxation and social security systems.

[24] National Defence minister meets with union reps at shipyards

Two deputies of main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA), the Defence Ministry's special secretary and the head of the Greek state's negotiation team.

[25] German Deputy Labour Minister Fuchtel heads business mission to the island of Thassos

The German delegation will have a working meeting with the mayor of Thassos and on Friday it will depart for Thessaloniki.

The meeting will focus on issues concerning the sectors of tourism, renewable energy sources, waste management, the excellent quality locally produced olive oil and the local olive variety.

The local business community will be represented in the meeting by the president of the Chamber of Kavala.

Thassos Mayor Costas Hatziemmanuil told ANA-MPA that the visit is made at the initiative of the German deputy labour minister and noted that it could open new business horizons for the region.

[26] German interest in Amyntaio mineral water, wines

The issue was discussed in the contacts Germany's special envoy for Greece, Deputy Labour Minister Hans Joachim Fuchtel had in the town of Amynteo, accompanied by a large business delegation that visited the "Xino Nero" mineral water bottling facilities and the local wineries, including EAS Amyntaion.

Alternative tourism issues were also discussed considering that local wineries can exchange know-how with wineries in the region of the German town of Zeitz. Winery facilities in both regions are open to visitors.

The likelihood of the twinning of the two regions was also discussed, as in addition to the wineries they have open-pit lignite mines in common.

[27] Fisheries areas in Evia and Chios receive EU sustainable dev't funding

Evia and Chios will be funded with 4,690,000 euros and 4,600,000 euros respectively, following the signing on Thursday of the relevant programmes by Agriculture and Foods Minister Athanassios Tsaftaris, who announced that similar programmes will be approved soon for the island of Samos.

Tsaftaris underlined that a number of actions will be implemented to boost the fisheries sector and its already great contribution to the Greek economy.

Referring to aquaculture, he said that special zones will be defined first in the region of Pieria in the north, followed by Aetoloakarnania and Evia in central Greece. He announced that a modern legal framework for the sector is in the works by the ministry of agriculture.

[28] Eurobank Properties says profits stable in Q1

Leasing revenue fell 11 pct to 9.52 million euros, while interest revenue dropped 15 pct to 2.06 million euros and financial expenses fell by 41 pct to 600,000 euros.

The company said its cash reserves totaled 160 million euros at the end of March, while its loan debt fell to 73 million euros. Eurobank Properties said its internal value grew to 638 million euros, while its shares are trading in the Athens Stock Exchange at a discount of around 38 pct.

[29] Russian investors increasingly interested in Greek house market

Dimitris Andritsos, Eurobank Property Services chief executive, said that a decision by the Greek government to offer residence permit to foreign investors -and their family members- who invest more than 250,000 in Greek real estate property, combined with a gradual change of the country's impage in international markets and an increasing trend of Russian tourists to Greece -expected to reach one million this year- are offering a unique opportunity to attract Russian investments in the Greek real estate market.

Andritsos said that conditions were ripe for Russian investors' interest in the Greek market to become a reality. Until now, Russian investors are investing in the house markets in regions such as Chalkidiki, Rhodes, Corfu and Crete buying property worth between 150-250,000 euros. He noted that Russian investors' interest was expanding to other regions of the country, with upgraded tourist infrastrucuture.

[30] Hellenic Petroleum reports negative results in Q1

The group said losses totaled 78 million euros in the January-March period, after earnings of 71 million euros in 2012, which comparable results showed a loss of 21 million euros after earnings of 45 million. Comparable EBITDA was 38 million euros, down 49 pct from the same period last year.

Hellenic Petroleum said that according to preliminary figures, domestic consumption of heating oil fell by 37 pct, while diesel oil consumption fell by around 6.5 pct in the first quarter of 2013.

Yiannis Costopoulos, the group's chief executive, commenting on the results said that a collapse of the domestic market puts further pressure in the retail sector of the oil business, confirming the need for drastic changes in the model of operations, emphasizing on reducing operating costs.

[31] Olympic Brewery says sales up 80 pct in 2012

EBITDA jumped 68.1 pct to 5.58 million euros, while pre-tax profits totaled 165,000 euros in 2012, from a pre-tax loss of 3.99 million euros in 2011. Olympic Brewery said its debt fell by 18.6 pct, while its fixed assets totaled 24 million euros.

[32] Delta Air Lines relaunches Athens-NYC flights for the summer

The daily direct flights, with a 298-seat Airbus A330-300 passenger plane, will continue for the duration of the summer season and will be conducted in collaboration with Delta partnersAir France-KLM.

Delta senior vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa Perry Cantarutti said that the specific route is very popular among tourists and business people and said that bookings were very encouraging.

In 2012, Delta carried more than 125,000 passengers travelling between Greece and the United States, with 85 pct capacity on the average.

[33] Folli Follie says profits up 7.4 pct in Q1

EBITDA totaled 53.2 million euros up 8.4 pct, gross earnings rose 2.6 pct to 124.1 million euros and gross profit margin rose to 50.38 pct. Operating earnings rose 10 pct to 47 million euros and net profits jumped 37.2 pct to 30.3 million euros.

Sales by its jewelry-watch-accessories department rose 14.8 pct to 146.7 million euros, sales by its Travel Retail sector rose 2.1 pct to 40.9 million, euros, sales in department stores rose 3.0 pct to 30.7 million euros and sales by its wholesale/retail of clothing/footwear fell 4.9 pct to 27.2 million euros.

[34] Greek stocks remain under pressure

Frigoglass (2.94 pct), Alpha Bank (2.88 pct) and Intralot (2.42 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Piraeus Bank (27.45 pct), Eurobank (25.12 pct), Hellenic Petroleum (7.06 pct) and MIG (5.82 pct) suffered heavy losses.

The Food sector was the only one to move higher (1.71 pct), while Health (5.61 pct), Technology (5.48 pct) and Oil (5.43 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 106 to 50 with another 17 issues unchanged. Pairis (29.93 pct), Kanakis (16 pct) and Kordellos Bros (11.63 pct) were top gainers, while Piraeus Bank (27.45 pct), Attica Bank (25.77 pct) and Eurobank (25.12 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Industrials: -3.31%

Commercial: -1.67%

Construction: -0.15%

Oil & Gas: -5.43%

Personal & Household: -0.09%

Raw Materials: -3.28%

Travel & Leisure: -3.09%

Technology: -5.48%

Telecoms: -1.69%

Banks: -1.63%

Food & Beverages: +1.71%

Health: -5.61%

Utilities: -1.42%

Financial Services: -4.21%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Bank of Piraeus, National Bank (right) and OTE.

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:

Alpha Bank: 0.61

Public Power Corp (PPC): 7.79

Coca-Cola: 20.96

Hellenic Petroleum: 7.90

National Bank: 4.57

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0.30

OPAP: 6.63

OTE: 6.39

Bank of Piraeus: 0.19

Titan: 13.50

[35] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates moved higher. The 12-month rate rose to 0.48 pct, the nine-month rate rose to 0.39 pct, the six-month rate was 0.29 pct, the three-month rate was 0.20 pct and the one-month rate was 0.11 pct.

[36] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 10,745 contracts worth 4.304 million euros, with investment interest focusing on OTE's contracts (2,180), followed by Eurobank (1,432), MIG (1,509), PPC (1,486), OPAP (561), Hellenic Exchanges (308), Mytilineos (822), Sidenor (133), GEK (1,085), Ellaktor (208), Intralot (394) and Terna Energy (251).

[37] Foreign Exchange rates - Friday

U.S. dollar 1.313

Pound sterling 0.868

Danish kroner 7.566

Swedish kroner 8.700

Japanese yen 133.68

Swiss franc 1.267

Norwegian kroner 7.733

Canadian dollar 1.363

Australian dollar 1.369

General News

[38] Mikis Theodorakis pronounced honorary member of the Academy of Athens

A distinguished personality of modern Greece, Theodorakis, originally from Crete, was born on the east Aegean island of Chios in 1925 and studied music at the Athens Conservatory under Filoktitis Economidis. He was awarded a Paris Conservatoire scholarship where he studied under Olivier Messiaen and Eugene Bizot.

He is regarded as Greece's best-known living composer. He wrote and composed numerous works including the music for the films "Zorba the Greek" (1964), "Z" (1969), and "Serpico" (1973).

[39] Human trafficker arrested

Police confiscated the suspect's car and three mobile phones.

The suspect will be sent before Alexandroupolis prosecutor.

[40] Large quantity of contraband cigarettes seized

According to an announcement on Thursday, a search in a container from China revealed 426,000 packets of contraband cigarettes of KARELIA & EMBASSY brands.

The loss of taxes to the state is estimated at 1,427,000 euros.

Weather forecast

[41] Cloudy on Friday

[42] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

DIMOKRATIA: Jobs for 2,200 university degree holders for 27 months.

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Free fall.

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: Hard landing.

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Lay-offs in social security funds and municipal services.

ELLADA AVRIO: 9 of 10 enterprises on the brink of bankruptcy.

ESTIA: Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in "children's' surveillant" role.

ETHNOS: Europe wakes up from the lethargy.

IMERISSIA: Asymmetric threat.

KATHIMERINI: Bank of Greece's report warns for under the limit poverty pensions.

LOGOS: OECD sinks the country- Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras disagrees with predictions.

NAFTEMPORIKI: OECD and Bank of Greece 'see' deeper recession.

RIZOSPASTIS: "They (government) form pensions of poverty.

TA NEA: SOS over NSRF funds.

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