Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-07-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek FinMin unveils privatisation plans

[02] FM Papandreou discusses bilateral relations, Cyprus with Turkish

[03] Main opposition rules out dialogue on electoral law reform

[04] Italian president to carry out three-day visit to Athens

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[06] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Tuesday

[07] Greek stocks jump 3.25 percent on Monday

[01] Greek FinMin unveils privatisation plans

Greek Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said that the government's measures to reform the capital markets' institutional framework, strengthen the market's supervisory bodies and promote structural changes have created the preconditions for a positive course of the domestic market.

Mr Christodoulakis also urged for the market to be left outside political harassment and to be left alone to function on their own devices.

The Greek minister, speaking to reporters, said that the government's privatisation programme has raised 1.408 billion euros so far, a sum expected to total to 1.847 billion euros by the end of August with the sale of a 33.4 percent equity stake in Hellenic Stock Exchanges, the flotation of a 25 percent equity stake in Piraeus Port Organisation and the sale of a lottery license.

Mr Christodoulakis said that the government would complete on Tuesday the transfer of a 33.4 percent equity stake in Hellenic Stock Exchanges to seven Greek banks and that the state would put 89 million euros in its coffers.

[02] FM Papandreou discusses bilateral relations, Cyprus with Turkish counterpart

ISTANBUL (ANA - A. Kourkoulas) - Foreign Minister George Papandreou held prolonged talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on Monday and said afterwards the Greek government has a positive outlook on reforms taking place in Turkey.

Papandreou added that the reforms are not only necessitated by the need of convergence with the European Union, but have been adopted by Turkish society and the Turkish government.

The Greek foreign minister further said he and Gul discussed developments in Cyprus, issues concerning bilateral relations and developments in Iraq.

In an address at the Bilgi University earlier, Papandreou referred to the course of Greek-Turkish relations over the past three years and the experience of his cooperation with former Turkish Foreign Minister Ismael Cem in particular.

[03] Main opposition rules out dialogue on electoral law reform

Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis on Monday repeated his party's flat refusal to participate in a government-initiated debate on reforms to electoral law, claiming that the ruling party made an issue out of the electoral system whenever it seemed about to lose an election.

Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Press Association, Karamanlis also repeated that he did not trust the government to carry out dialogue on election law reform and noted that such a debate might take place after the next elections, while pointing out that no electoral system was absolutely fair and just.

He reiterated a call for early elections, saying that the country could not afford to wait 'a single day' nor an extended election run-up, and once more called for a government bill lifting the confidentiality of MPs' stock market codes.

[04] Italian president to carry out three-day visit to Athens

Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is due to arrive in Athens on Tuesday for a three-day official visit, accompanied by his wife.

According to an announcement, Ciampi will be received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos at the presidential mansion shortly after his arrival on Tuesday afternoon, after which he will attend an official dinner in his honour hosted by Stephanopoulos.

On Wednesday, the Italian president will meet Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, who will present him with the Greek Parliament's Gold Medal.

Afterward he will meet Prime Minister Costas Simitis and attend a working luncheon at the prime minister's mansion, while on Wednesday afternoon he is scheduled to meet main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis, the leaders of the smaller opposition parties and Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.138

Pound sterling 0.700

Danish kroner 7.492

Swedish kroner 9.205

Japanese yen 133.9

Swiss franc 1.563

Norwegian kroner 8.388

Cyprus pound 0.592

Canadian dollar 1.570

Australian dollar 1.725

[06] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Tuesday

Mostly sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country, with some scattered cloud in the centre and north. Winds northerly, moderate. In the north, temperatures will range from 16C to 30C; on the rest of the mainland from 18C to 33C; and in the islands from 21C to 31C. Temperatures in Athens will range between 22C and 33C; and in Thessaloniki from 20C to 30C.

[07] Greek stocks jump 3.25 percent on Monday

Greek stocks surged on Monday supported by strong buying interest, particularly for blue chip stocks by institutional investors, in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The general index soared 3.25 percent to end at 2,041.99 points, with turnover an improved 224 million euros.

The Publication sector was the only one to end lower (0.36 percent), while the Construction (4.47 percent), Banks (3.79 percent), Wholesale (3.42 percent) and Telecommunications (3.15 percent) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 3.75 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.64 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 3.21 percent up and the FTSE/ASE 140 index rose 3.33 percent.

OPAP's shares ended 5.01 percent higher after hitting an intra-day high of 11.2 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 317 to 37 with another 14 issues unchanged.

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