Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-02-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Moody's-Greece-Banks

[02] GNTO-Staff-Strike

[03] Greece - Turkey - Democratic institutions

[04] ECB: Euro-Dollar-Drachma

[05] McDonald's-Greece-Investment

[06] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

[07] ASE-close

[08] Greece - FYROM - Skopje trade show

[09] Balkan Summit - preparations

[01] Moody's-Greece-Banks

Moody's said on Monday that it had retained its stable rating for long and short term deposits in Greek banks, and the financial health of the institutions.

In a regular market report, the international ratings agency said the move reflected an improvement in the Greek economy overall, restructuring in the banking sector that was leading to the creation of powerful units, and to a robust outlook for growth in financial services.

The current restructuring through acquisitions and mergers was likely to continue in the medium term, further strengthening the banking sector and therefore national growth, the report added.

[02] GNTO-Staff-Strike

Workers at the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) said on Monday that they would continue their work stoppages this week to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the state agency.

The strikes are planned for 0730-1030 on Tuesday and 1200-1500 on Wednesday. Workers are to hold a general assembly on Thursday after a meeting with Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, GNTO's trade union said in a statement.

[03] Greece - Turkey - Democratic institutions

Athens reiterated on Tuesday that Greece believes Turkeys democratic institutions should reach the level of European Union countries, thereby allowing the neighbouring country to approach and eventually join the 15-member bloc.

A government spokesman stressed that democratic institutions in Turkey must go hand in hand with Ankaras acceptance of the Unions acquis communautaire.

[04] ECB: Euro-Dollar-Drachma

The euro on Monday stood at 92.13 cents against the US dollar, according to reference rates released by the European Central Bank (ECB).

The parity gives an implied rate of 369.85 drachmas versus the US currency, the ECB said in a routine statement.

Greece joined the euro zone on January 1.

[05] McDonald's-Greece-Investment

McDonald's, the global fast food chain, is to invest 18 billion drachmas (52.824 million euros)over four years to expand its Greek operations, a senior company official said on Monday.

The chief executive officer of McDonald's Hellas, Alain Sebah, told a news conference that the company planned to open more than 100 fast food restaurants under franchise, doubling current capacity.

The investment drive reflected the impetus of the Greek economy and anticpated demand by comsumers, Sebah said.

McDonald's has 48 outlets in Greece, 37 under franchise and 11 run directly by the company.

Next month, the company will open two restaurants at the Eleftherios Venizelos airport near Spata, which is due to start operations on March 28, Sebah added.

[06] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

Mostly sunny weather is forecast on Tuesday, with scattered cloud in the southeast until afternoon. Winds northerly, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from -4C to 8C; on the rest of the mainland from -2C to 12C; and in the islands from 4C to 11C. Sunny in Athens with temperatures between 4C and 10C. Scattered cloud in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 0C to 7C.

[07] ASE-close

Continued buying interest for smaller capitalisation stocks led Greek equities to a higher close on the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday, extending their gains for the 8th consecutive session.

Traders said the general index fell 0.92 percent initially to recover strongly surpassing the 3,250 level later in the session, to end at 3,240.53 points, up 0.59 percent. Turnover was an improved 228.59 million euros, or 77.89 billion drachmas, of which 20.21 million euros were pre-agreed transactions.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.35 percent higher at 1,864.66 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index jumped 2.17 percent to 381.35 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks soared 7.06 percent to 313.56 points.

[08] Greece - FYROM - Skopje trade show

A fourth consecutive exhibition of Greece-based enterprises will take place in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over the weekend at the Skopje trade centre.

Some 70 Greek firms will participate in the exhibition, which is again organised this year by northern Greece's Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) organisation.

According to reports, Greece is FYROMs third largest trade partner, after Germany and Slovenia, whereas Greek companies hold first place in terms of direct foreign investments in the one-time Yugoslav republic directly to Greeces north. Additionally, Greek exports to FYROM reached the $1.32-billion mark in 1999.

[09] Balkan Summit - preparations

Greece will focus on the violence in Presevo at a Tuesday meeting of foreign ministry officials from countries participating in the Balkan Summit. The meeting will work on the text of the Summit's final communique.

The Balkan leaders will meet in Skopje, capital of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on Thursday and Friday to discuss the latest developments in southeast Europe, particular events in southern Serbia and Kosovo.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou intends to present Greece's proposals for resolving the crisis at a meeting with his Balkan counterparts on Thursday. The foreign ministers' meeting will prepare the agenda for the later meetings between heads of state and government. Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina will participate in these meetings as observers.

On Thursday night, Papandreou will meet with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem, Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic and FYROM Foreign Minister Srgjan Kerim.

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