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Friday, 19 April 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-15Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Homes burnt as wildfire spreadsHomes in a small village north of Athens were being licked by flames on Tuesday as a wildfire that had broken out earlier in the morning in the Dervenohori municipality of Viotia prefecture reached the outskirts of the small community, in spite of the fire brigade's efforts to check it.Media reports said authorities had ordered an emergency evacuation of the area. The fire brigade said the fire had spread toward the village, heading southwest, fanned by winds of medium intensity and burning through an expanse of scrub and pines. Further reinforcements were sent in from the greater Athens area, with 11 aircraft, three helicopters, 51 fire-engines and 140 firefighters. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo. [02] Home demand slows, reportA global economic slowdown is affecting the domestic housing market, the traditional investment of Greek households, Constantinos Mihalos, the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressed on Tuesday.Addressing a seminar on the outlook of the local real estate market, Mihalos said that according to a recent survey by Deloitte, housing value accounted for 78 percent of Greek households' total portfolio, followed by savings deposits (16 pct) and stock shares (6.0 pct). He noted, however, that despite a government decision to offer significant tax cuts, housing demand has fallen significantly over the last few months, affecting investment activity in the country. Mihalos said this trend necessitated constant alertness to achieve needed stabilization of the market as soon as possible. He stressed that other real estate sectors, such as commercial property, logistics and holiday homes, enjoyed more favourable prospects. Economy and Finance Deputy Minister Antonis Bezas said the real estate sector was a significant factor of Greek economic growth, contributing around 23-25 pct of GDP, while A. Karytinos, National Bank's real estate director, said housing prices rose by 5.4 pct last year, compared with a 16.3-pct rise in 2006, while he added that forecasts for the current year are difficult to make because of high uncertainty due to a current international credit crisis. Caption: A file photo dated Wednesday, 27 December 2005 shows Athens from the south, with the Acropolis and the Herod Atticus Odeon in the foreground. ANA-MPA / PANTELIS SAITAS. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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