Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-12-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] World AIDS Day observed throughout Greece

[02] Listed companies report losses

[01] World AIDS Day observed throughout Greece

Informational material and condoms were given out by NGO volunteers and actors at several spots throughout Athens, who also shared out "FreeHugs" to passers-by in a move aimed to eliminate social racism against HIV carriers and to stress the fact that HIV is not communicated through social contact.

Similar events were held throughout the country.

According to statistics released by the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), AIDS incidents have been on the rise in Greece in recent years, with 519 new cases reported this year up until October 31, bringing the overall number of HIV positive cases to 10,452 of which 80.9 percent (8,453) were men and 18.7 percent (1,951) were women, while no gender was reported in a small percentage of the cases.

The number of children infected with AIDS remains small, however, with just 37 cases overall, of which 64.9 percent were infected by the mother.

AIDS-related deaths this year, up to October 31, totaled 34.

(Photo: ANA-MPA/P. Saitas)

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[02] Listed companies report losses

In a report, Pegasus Securities said a decline in losses to 570 million euros in the nine-month period, from losses totaling 1.37 billion euros in the first half of the year, was a small success since banks have contributed losses as a sector so far this year. The final figure of losses reflected mainly higher losses reported by MIG (1.38 billion euros), Atlantic (107 million euros), banks' losses (553 million euros) and losses suffered by several sectors such as transport, publications, holdings and constructions.

The balance between loss-making and profitable enterprises was in favour of loss-making companies with a ratio of 55:45.

After tax and minorities earnings of 261 listed enterprises fell 111.3 pct in the nine-month period, while turnover rose 3.9 pct to 58.438 billion euros and operating earnings fell 14.8 pct in the period.

The number of loss-making enterprises that turned into profitable were unchanged, while the number of companies moving the other way around recorded a small improvement.

Mytilineos, Metka, Frigoglass, S&B, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling, Titan, Piraeus Port, Bank of Cyprus, Elval and Karelias managed to raise their profits in the January-September period, while small-size enterprises such as Mathios, Mermeren, Karatzis, Inform Lycos, Karamolegos, Eurodrip, Loulis, Kathimerini, Iktinos, Infoquest, Kyriakidis, Thrace Plastics, MLS Informatics, Voyatzoglou and Kepenos Mills, also raised their profits.

On the other hand, listed enterprises such as Emporiki Bank, Geniki Bank, ATEbank, MIG, Nutriart, Intracom, Petzetakis, Atlantic, Edrasi, Desmos and the whole sectors of transport and media recorded higher losses.

Banks managed to report improved results in the third quarter of the year, with the rate of provisions slowing to 35 pct from 37 pct in the first half, totaling 5.17 billion euros. Interest income slowed to 7.78 pct, while commission income was a negative 5.95 pct. Operating costs in the sector grew slower at 0.23 pct.

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