[ana-dist] Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 12-12-12

HR-Net News Distribution Manager dist at hri.org
Wed Dec 12 16:50:30 EST 2012


Wednesday,  12  December  2012          Issue No: 4245

CONTENTS
[01] Greek debt buyback programme 'technically successful', officials say
[02] Greek FM satisfied over fYRoM accession prerequisite
[03] Government must go, main opposition SYRIZA leader tells party MPs
[04] Gov't spokesman addresses visiting EU journalists
[05] Draft bill for abolition, merger of public-sector agencies tabled
      in Parliament
[06] New tax law draft to be tabled in Parliament, sources
[07] Centrifugal tendences within Ind. Greeks continue; Zois, Manolis
      depart
[08] Deputy finmin: Deal with Swiss on taxing deposits possibly in 2013
[09] President briefed on energy cooperation, efforts to exploit mineral
      wealth
[10] Initiative to prevent release of dangerous criminals due to delays
      in bring cases to trial
[11] Lawyers in various cities to strike until Dec. 14
[12] Archbishop, labour minister discuss ways to assist Church welfare
      work
[13] Political figures' 'means and assets' statements uploaded on
      parliament's website
[14] 'Those who fear the new will not keep Greece in the past"
[15] Greece raises 4.3875 bln euro from T-bills auctions
[16] Wholesale trade index down 8.4 pct in Q3
[17] PPC to continue collection of extraordinary real estate surtax in
      electricity bills
[18] PPC seeks increase in electricity rates up to 48.7 percent
[19] No hike in public transport fares in March, minister says
[20] Shipping executives defend tax incentives offered to the industry
[21] SEB chief: Annual growth of 3-3.5 percent needed to avert new
      measures
[22] Employment prospects remain negative, Manpower report
[23] Building activity down 46.6 pct in Sept
[24] Turnover in Greek car sector down 27.2 pct
[25] AMNA inaugurates new service; first study focuses on port of Piraeus
      and Cosco
[26] Greek stocks end 2.28 pct higher
[27] Greek bond market closing report
[28] ADEX closing report
[29] Foreign Exchange rates - Wednesday
[30] Ski resorts in Greece open
[31] Powerful females of antiquity featured at Cycladic Museum
[32] Organ donation law slated for 2013 will allow opting out
[33] Temperature drop on Wednesday
[34] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance
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[01] Greek debt buyback programme 'technically successful', officials say

The Greek debt management agency will publish the results of a debt
buyback programme on Wednesday, before the opening of stock markets.

The book-building process closed at noon on Tuesday, a finance ministry
official told AMNA after a Eurogroup teleconference meeting late on
Tuesday, adding that "the book will not reopen". The official said the
process was "technically successful" although he refrained from giving
details.

During the teleconference, Greece presented the outcome of the buyback
programme, the official said, adding that "there were no decisions,
only a briefing of our partners. Technically the process was successful,
but the issue is to be politically approved (at the Eurogroup's meeting)
on Thursday". The official said that the meeting will assess the impact
of the buyback programe on the sustainability of the Greek public debt
and discuss the release of additional funds to Greece to finance the
buyback programme.

According to international media, the buyback process raised more than
31 billion euros. A report by Reuters, citing eurozone sources, said
that the average price for the bonds was 33.5 cents per euro, slightly
higher than estimates, a development which will be not enough to reduce
the country's debt to 124 pct of GDP in 2020.

[02] Greek FM satisfied over fYRoM accession prerequisite

BRUSSELS (AMNA/M.Spinthourakis)

Representing Greece at the European Union's General Affairs Council
in Brussels on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos
expressed satisfaction over Europe's commitment to enlargement and over
the resolution of the name issue for the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (fYRoM) before accession negotiations can begin.

In statements to the press at the end of the meeting, Avramopoulos said
that Greece sees expansion of the EU's membership as one of the EU's
most important strategies and "a tool to establish peace, stability,
safety and development" during an era when one sees "an upsurge in
nationalism in many Balkan countries."

Speaking of fYRoM's application for membership to the EU currently under
consideration, the Greek minister said it was the first time that the
Council decided unanimously and explicitly that a resolution on the
country's name constitutes a prerequisite for accession negotiations
and a factor of continuing good neighbouring policy with Greece.

He said that the Council would use the European Commission report,
expected this coming spring, to evaluate the steps fYRoM needs to take
to find a solution within the framework of negotiations conducted by the
United Nations on the name issue, and that accession talks will begin
only after a solution is found. The conclusions of Tuesday's meeting
also include the EU's support of a Greek proposal to Skopje for the
signing of a memorandum of understanding related to the name.

"The EU spoke today in a single voice," Avramopoulos said, "and sent
a clear message to Skopje. It is a positive and earnest message. We
hope that Skopje will take the necessary steps and participate in a
constructive way in negotiations under the UN auspices."

[03] Government must go, main opposition SYRIZA leader tells party MPs

Main opposition 'Coalition of the Radical Left' (SYRIZA) leader Alexis
Tsipras on Tuesday repeated his party's readiness to take over the
reins of power and stressed that the present government must go, while
addressing a meeting of SYRIZA's Parliamentary group.

"The only thing that must now be done using emergency procedures is not
to pass pro-Memorandum laws but to get rid of this government that is
casting the country and the people into misery," Tsipras said.

A national salvation government with SYRIZA at its core is "coming as a
necessity and no one can stop it," he added, stressing that SYRIZA was
ready to take on the task of "stopping the destruction of the country"
and proceed with rebuilding the shattered economy.

He underlined that nothing could stop this happening, even if the
government went ahead with planned changes to electoral laws toward
simple proportional representation.

"Suddenly, they are hankering for simple proportional representation. Let
them bring it tomorrow. Whatever they do, they will only succeed in
fuelling our people's desire for a great political change," the main
opposition leader said.

Attacking the government coalition, he accused it of "religious devotion"
to the German government's plans to convert Greece into a 'Special
Economic Zone'.

An earlier party announcement also slammed the finance minister's
intervention to continue collecting a property surtax via electricity
bills, in spite of court decisions finding that the forced levy of the
tax in this manner was unlawful.

"This proves that the memorandum coalition government will stop at
nothing, neither court decisions nor laws," SYRIZA stressed, but was
prepared to do anything to "wipe out working people financially and
throw them destitute into the nets of savage exploitation and the dark
ages of labour".

[04] Gov't spokesman addresses visiting EU journalists

The government is aiming to fix distortions of the economy in multiple
sectors, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou told a working luncheon
of  36 European journalists on Tuesday, naming the markets of products,
services, labour and capital, and the public sector including bureaucracy.

Kedikoglou spoke of Greece having "regained credibility" and "removed
drachmophobia" after securing the release of the next loan tranche
from the EU/IMF/ECB troika, and said the next target was to create
"a new, competitive and modern economy." The government is determined
to neutralise recession and transform the country in all sectors while
supporting social cohesion and democratic principles, he said.

The journalists - from Belgium, Esthonia, Ireland and Slovenia - are
invitees of the European Commission office in Greece and will meet with
politicians, other journalists and business and labour representatives
to learn more about Greece and the European Commission's work here.

[05] Draft bill for abolition, merger of public-sector agencies tabled
in Parliament

An administrative reform ministry draft bill for the abolition and
merger of various public-sector agencies, both in the civil service and
the broader public sector, was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. The bill
also creates a general secretariat "to coordinate the government's work"
and other measures. The draft bill will now go before the appropriate
Parliamentary committee for processing.

[06] New tax law draft to be tabled in Parliament, sources

The new tax law draft will be tabled in Parliament on Friday, according
to sources that quoted the Finance Ministry programme.

[07] Centrifugal tendences within Ind. Greeks continue; Zois, Manolis
depart

Independent Greeks party president Panos Kammenos on Tuesday accepted
the resignation of the party spokesman Christos Zois, as the ongoing
crisis in the opposition party continued.

"I thank Christos Zois for his contribution all this time. It is true
that the path we have chosen is a difficult and dangerous one for the
establishment. We are continuing," Kammenos said.

Zois submitted his resignation earlier on Tuesday, quoting excerpts from
his statement on March 19, 2012 concerning his reasons for joining the
party and saying that his decision to depart was clinched by Kammenos'
statements during a radio interview on Tuesday morning that "made me
abandon all hope".

"No one can converse with 'chaos', with unreliability, with hypocrisy and
double-talk," Zois said, referring to the need to protect the country
from "irrelevant and even dangerous ideas" that had recently emerged,
while wishing the best of luck to colleagues that he had worked with at
the party.

Apart from Zois, former New Democracy deputy Ioannis Manolis also
announced his decision to quit Ind. Greeks on Tuesday.

[08] Deputy finmin: Deal with Swiss on taxing deposits possibly in 2013

Provided all goes well, Greece should be ready to sign an agreement with
Switzerland for the taxation of Greek deposits in that country by early
2013, Deputy Finance Minister George Mavraganis said in Parliament on
Tuesday. He was speaking to Parliament's Economic Affairs Committee
during a discussion on two draft bills modifying existing rules for
avoiding double taxation with Belgium and Switzerland.

Opposition MPs on the committee criticised the proposed modifications,
saying that they did little to improve the extremely limited framework
for exchanging information on such issues.

[09] President briefed on energy cooperation, efforts to exploit mineral
wealth

Deputy Environment, Energy and Climate Change Minister Makis Papageorgiou
on Tuesday briefed President Karolos Papoulias on Greece's relations
and its cooperation with other countries in the energy sector, as well
as efforts underway to exploit the country's metal and mineral wealth.

The minister noted that it was now becoming apparent that Greece had
significant wealth in mineral deposits, which the greater needs generated
by the crisis had helped bring to light, creating the opportunity
to do significant things with regard to energy and mineral wealth,
in particular.

[10] Initiative to prevent release of dangerous criminals due to delays
in bring cases to trial

Justice Minister Antonis Roupakiotis on Tuesday announced an initiative
to modify the existing legal framework in order to avoid the release
of potentially dangerous criminals from prison due to the expiration of
the 18-month period for they can be held on remand pending trial.

His decision was prompted by the recent release of a prisoner held for
the double homicide of two police officers in Rendi and other cases where
delays in the judicial investigation and start of a trial resulted in
the release of criminals wanted for serious criminal offences of major
public interest from prison.

Roupakiotis said that he will immediately table an amendment in
Parliament modifying trial rules so that the pre-trial proceedings for
such controversial cases, including the main investigation and the
process involving judicial councils, must be completed within a set
period of time, followed by the setting of a trial date as a priority.

Under the new rules, the examining magistrate's investigation must be
completed within six months and a trial hearing set within one year. In
order to enable this to happen, difficult cases will be assigned to two
or more examining magistrates at a time and a public prosecutor will set
a trial date by priority, not more than 40 days after the documentation
for a case is transferred.

More importantly, the ability to keep these deadlines will be a decisive
factor for the promotion of public prosecutors and justices.

[11] Lawyers in various cities to strike until Dec. 14

Thirty-three of the country's 63 bar associations have decided to go
on strike until Dec. 14 to protest the new draft tax law and other new
regulations affecting their sector.

The strike will affect lawyers in cities throughout Greece, except Athens
and Thessaloniki.

[12] Archbishop, labour minister discuss ways to assist Church welfare
work

The welfare work done by the Church of Greece was the main focus of a
meeting between Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos and Labour
Minister Yiannis Vroutsis on Tuesday. The archbishop also repeated his
objections to measures allowing shops to open on Sundays.

Arriving at the meeting, Vroutsis stressed that the ministry strives to
be close to society during the current difficult period and to act as
a support for the Church.

In comments after the meeting, the minister said that they had focused
especially on the significant welfare work done by the Church, expressing
the ministry's appreciation for the Church's role, "especially under
the difficult conditions experienced by the Greek people".

"As labour ministry we looked at ways and processes through which we can
support this work using Community funds, the soup kitchens for the poor,
the social pharmacies and surgeries, the homeless shelters. All these
things are opening for the labour ministry and we will help the Church
become more actively involved in these programmes," he added.

The archbishop noted that the country was going through difficult times
that the Church was striving to alleviate through its assistance but had
certain needs, especially in terms of finding people and working hands.

"We discussed this today with the minister, exchanged views and proposals
and I would like to thank him because if we proceed toward this goal
our work will become much better," he stressed.

Replying to questions about newly announced measures allowing shops to
open on Sundays, the archbishop expressed his opposition to the measure.

"We spend our time dealing with numbers and forget our soul. When will
shop keepers see their children, when will they see their families,
when will they rest and regain their strength," he noted.

[13] Political figures' 'means and assets' statements uploaded on
parliament's website

The 'means and assets' statements of 508 political figures for 2010
(financial year 2011) were uploaded on parliament's website on Tuesday,
where they will remain for a month, until January 11, 2013.

The statements of the 508 political figures required to submit them,
including MPs and political party leaders, were submitted to the relevant
parliamentary committee on the finances of parties, which said that in
certain instances further clarifications and documentation were sought.

The audit on the statements aimed at ascertaining whether on the basis
of the information declared the acquisition of new assets or increase
in existing assets was justified by the specific individual's revenues
in conjunction with his/her living expenses.

Financial News

[14] 'Those who fear the new will not keep Greece in the past"

The government will hold dialogue with all the interested sides, but
will not allow those who fear the new, frequently without reason, to
keep Greece in the past, Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure,
Transport and Networks minister Costis Hatzidakis said on Tuesday,
commenting on negative reactions from the business community over the
ministry's intention to allow shops to open on Sundays.

According to the ministry proposal, shops with an area of up to 250
square meters, except those belonging to chains, will have the option
of opening on all Sundays in the year, while large stores (over 250
sq.m.) will be able to work up to seven Sundays a year, again optionally.

"We aspire to making the market more contemporary, more European, more
consumer-friendly. A big change is being made based on the European
experience. We are giving the ability to large enterprises to work more,
and to the smaller businesses to work even more. We are giving the
consumers -- Greeks and tourists -- the ability to freely make their
purchases," Hatzidakis told the 12th International Venture Capital &
Private Equity Forum taking place in Athens.

Hatzidakis also announced that the disbursement of loans to small and
medium size enterprises (SMEs) with funding from the European Investment
Bank (EIB) are beginning immediately, adding that agreements between
the EIB have already been signed while more are due to be signed within
the week.

Together with the unblocking of the EIB funds, the measures for boosting
liquidity also include the simplification of the NSRF (National Strategic
Reference Framework) procedures, the unblocking of the National Fund for
Business and Development (ETEAN) capital, implementation of the actions
to boost exports, and the new development law which will be tabled soon
in parliament, he continued.

Hatzidakis further said that the procedures for setting up three venture
capital funds were completed about three weeks ago, while completion of a
fourth, in the context of the EU's JEREMIE initiative is expected. Through
these venture capital funds, financing will be provided to businesses
in the fields of information technology and communication from the NSRF
funds, despite the negative economic situation, he added, noting that
more than 20 private investors are participating in the above funds with
capital that was expected to reach 21 million euro.

[15] Greece raises 4.3875 bln euro from T-bills auctions

Greece on Tuesday successfully auctioned one- and three-month Treasury
bills raising 4.3875 billion euro from the market. The Public Debt
Management Organization, in a statement, said that an auction of
26-week Treasury bills, worth 1.250 billion euro, was 1.54 times
oversubscribed. The organization accepted non-competitive bids worth 375
million euros, while the interest rate of the issue fell to 4.38 percent
from 4.41 percent of the previous auction of same securities in November
6. The organization will also accept additional non-competitive bids
up to 30 percent of the issue by Thursday. The auction was made with
the market's primary dealers while settlement date was set for Friday,
14 December.

An auction of four-week Treasury bills, worth 2.125 billion euros, was
1.3 times oversubscribed. The organization accepted non-competitive bids
worth 637.5 million euro while the interest rate of the issue was set
at 3.99 percent, slightly up from 3.95 percent of the previous auction
of same securities in November 13. Settlement date was set for Friday,
14 December. The organization will also accept non-competitive bids up
to 30 percent of the asked sum by Thursday, 13 December.

[16] Wholesale trade index down 8.4 pct in Q3

Greece' s wholesale trade index fell by 8.4 percent in the third quarter
of 2012, compared with the same period last year, after a decline of
9.7 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2011, Hellenic Statistical
Authority said on Tuesday.

The statistics service, in a report, said that the wholesale trade
index fell 2.2 pct in the third quarter from the second quarter of 2012,
compared with a 9.6 pct drop recorded in the corresponding period in 2011.

[17] PPC to continue collection of extraordinary real estate surtax in
electricity bills

The extraordinary real estate surtax will continue to appear on
electricity bills for collection via the Public Power Corporation (PPC),
despite a court decision last week ruling that collection of the surtax
via PPC bills was illegal.

PPC officials told AMNA on Tuesday that, following a letter to the PPC
by Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras on Monday night, the surtax will
continue to be collected via electricity bills.

An Athens First Instance Court last Tuesday (December 4) ruled that the
collection of the extraordinary surtax on real estate via Public Power
Corp. (PPC) electricity bills was illegal. The ruling, on a class-action
suit filed by consumer groups and federations, was provisionally
executable, meaning that PPC must stop collecting the surtax, even if
an appeal is lodged by the state, until a higher court ruling is issued.

Two days later (December 6), the Finance Ministry and PPC management
announced that the Greek state will challenge the ruling in an appeal
to the Areios Pages (Supreme Court).

"For reasons of public interest, the PPC will proceed regularly with the
collection of the real estate surtax (EETHDE), following the letter sent
by the Finance Minister to the PPC to continue collection of the surtax,"
the PPC officials told AMNA.

Announcing the decision to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court,
the ministry instructed the PPC to continue collection of the surtax in
the meantime.

It is recalled that the Council of State has ruled the real estate surtax
as constitutional, but has prohibited the discontinuation of electricity
to households that do not pay the surtax but only the amount corresponding
to electricity consumption.

[18] PPC seeks increase in electricity rates up to 48.7 percent

Public Power Corporation (PPC) plans to raise households' electricity
rates by 14.5 percent to 48.7 percent, to freeze a social household rate,
a special rate for families with more than three children and to change
the scale of energy charges.

PPC has submitted its proposals to the country's energy watchdog,
seeking to raise electricity rates from 2013. PPC asked for a trade
weighted increase in rates of 24.9 percent next year and to implement
this new price policy in three stages: 10.8 percent on January 1, 6.3
percent on May 1 and 6.1 percent on July 1 when electricity rates will
be fully liberalized.

The country's energy market watchdog believes that electricity rate
increases are inevitable, but stressed that its recommendations to the
government would be based primarily on what benefits consumers and the
national economy.

[19] No hike in public transport fares in March, minister says

There will be no increase in public transport fares in March, as
originally envisaged, Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure,
Transport and Networks Minister Kostis Hatzidakis announced during a
press conference on Tuesday. Efforts are also being made to avoid any
ticket hikes in October 2013, the minister added.

Hatzidakis said the ministry was trying to boost revenues for the
transport system by clamping down on fare-dodging, which cost the Athens
public transport system OASA an estimated 37.5 million euro a year in
lost revenues. He noted that October 2012 was the first month in which
ticket sales increased by 12 percent, while estimated sales in November
increased by 4.7 percent with the exception of the six 24-hour strikes
held during the month.

"The aim is to reduce fare-dodging by 50 percent. The troika was convinced
that we are making efforts because of our revenues in one month but they
expected a lasting effort," Hatzidakis told reporters.

The ministry hopes that an increase in ticket sales by 10 percent will
generate savings of up to 25 million euro.

Hatzidakis announced that after the Epiphany holiday on January 6,
passengers will be able to buy special discounted packets of 11 tickets
for the price of 10 and these will have different colours so that they
cannot be resold individually. Over the coming weeks, OASA will also
introduce a multiple ticket for more categories of fares in a bid to
reward conscientious passengers that pay their travel fares in full and
give added incentives against fare-dodging.

The minister also announced plans to reorganise the OSY-STASY staff plan
and transfer more people to ticket sales and ticket control but said that
an electronic ticket system, capable of being topped up via credit card,
the Internet or using a mobile phone, will not be introduced before 2014.

Concerning future extensions to the system, Hatzidakis said that the
metro extension to Anthoupolis in western Athens will be completed in
April, that to Elliniko to the southeast in July and the new station in
Haidari (western Athens) the following September. The line 3 extension
from Haidari (Agia Marina) - Piraeus is expected to be completed in 2017.

A contract for an extension of the tram line toward Piraeus will be
signed next week while the Thessaloniki metro is currently struggling
to overcome the contractor's liquidity issues.

Finally, he stressed that the ministry will implement the law imposing
the uniform public-sector salary scale on public transport staff, in
spite of their objections. "If there are injustices these will be dealt
with but the law will not change," he emphasised. He also ruled out any
prospect of abolishing bus lanes.

[20] Shipping executives defend tax incentives offered to the industry

Greek merchant shipping executives on Tuesday said their industry was an
international activity, operating through a grid of off-shore enterprises,
while Greek shipowners, along with shipping companies, could not be an
exception to this international environment.

Speaking to AMNA, the shipping executives said that if the government
wished to abolish certain tax breaks offered to shipping companies
it should first proceed with an amendment of article 107 of the Greek
Constitution (protecting capital abroad) which offered tax advantages
in order to attract shipping companies to Greece.

The executives stressed that if the government decided to tax shipping
companies then the majority of them would have to relocate their base
outside Greece. They noted, however, that several shipping companies
have chosen to be based in Greece not only because of tax incentives,
but because of the expert and capable personnel transporting the know-how
of the sea in the land.

The shipping executives were commenting on a question tabled in arliament
by seven main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) party  deputies
over tax priviledges offered to shipping companies.

Merchant Marine Minister Costis Mousouroulis, addressing a forum organized
by WISTA Hellas on "The Greek state and Greek shipping -can they pace
together?", said that the shipping sector offered valuable funds to
the country and reiterated the state's will to continue supporting the
industry with all its powers.

[21] SEB chief: Annual growth of 3-3.5 percent needed to avert new
measures

Greece's growth rate must return to 3-3.5 percent annually so that new
painful, across-the-board measures will not be required and for the
people's sacrifices not to go to waste, Federation of Greek Industries
(SEB) president Dimitris Daskalopoulos told a Greek Public Administration
Society (EEDE) event on Tuesday titled "Building the new Greece".

He noted that the venture would be very difficult, given that the state
has gone bankrupt and can no longer guarantee growth, which today can
only come from the private sector.

Daskalopoulos said that with the recent Eurogroup decisions, there was a
realistic prospect to re-build Greece, and another opportunity to break
the vicious circle of dependence on loan tranches.

However, he added, Greece cannot negotiate more help from its partners,
and the ball was now in Greece's court. "It is our responsibility to put
the banking system back on its feet, to complete the fiscal adjustment
with socially just terms, to put Greece back on a growth track with our
own decisions and with our own strength," he said.

Daskalopoulos reiterated his criticism of collusion, saying that it was
inevitable that the state-dependent economy would breed state-dependent
businesses. "A sector of the businesses world that used to live with
the collusionary privileges of the state -- and was hostile to change
because this would discomfort it or threaten its members, had become
'accommodated' in the warm lap of the state, without transparency or
competition," he said.

On the other hand, Daskalopoulos said that the majority of the business
community, "which works hard to remain standing in these difficult
years, continues to produce and plan, uncomplainingly pays taxes and
contributions, has preserved jobs, fights alone against the crisis,
investing in a better tomorrow", must take the reins of growth into
its hands.

[22] Employment prospects remain negative, Manpower report

Employment prospects remained negative in Greece for the third consecutive
year, a Manpower survey said on Tuesday.

Manpower, in a report, said however that employment prospects improved
in five out of a total nine economic activity sectors in the first
quarter 2013, compared with prospects in the fourth quarter and the
first quarter of 2012. Northern Greece presented the most pessimistic
prospects, with employment prospects down 18% in the first quarter of
2013 and intention for new hirings remaining negative. The Attica region
showed a 10 pct decline in new hiring prospects in the first quarter of
next year, however, hiring intentions were up compared with the second
quarter and the first quarter of 2012.

The tourism, wholesale and retail sales sectors recorded the most
pessimistic forecasts over employment prospects in the first three
months of 2013, followed by the sectors of agriculture, electricity,
naturas gas and water. The  public sector and social services sector
recorded more optimistic employment prospects, Manpower said.

[23] Building activity down 46.6 pct in Sept

Building activity (volume) in the private sector shrank by 46.6 pct in
September this year, while a further drop in the number of building
permits issued in the same month created a more negative outlook for
the industry.

The size of private building activity in the country totaled 1,438
permits in September, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Tuesday,
down 60.6 pct from the same month last year, while building activity
measured in volume dropped by 46.6 pct over the same period.

Building activity was down 32.1 pct in the January-September period
(measured in permits) and by 26.3 pct in volume.

[24] Turnover in Greek car sector down 27.2 pct

Turnover in the domestic car sector dropped 27.2 pct in the third quarter
of 2012, compared with the same period last year, after a 6.7 pct decline
recorded in the same period in 2011, Hellenic Statistical Authority said
on Tuesday.

The turnover index was down 2.0 pct in the third quarter compared with
the second quarter of 2012. The composite index measures all activities
in the car sector (sales, maintenance and repair).

The turnover index in the car sales category fell 32.4 pct in the third
quarter compared with the same period last year, and a 2.1 pct decline
from the second quarter of 2012.

[25] AMNA inaugurates new service; first study focuses on port of Piraeus
and Cosco

Piraeus, Greece's main port is being transformed. China's COSCO is
investing in the port, with the vision of turning Piraeus into the
'Singapore of Europe'. AMNA Web TV's camera has recorded the targets of
the Chinese giant's chief executive of the Piraeus Cargo Terminal, Captain
Fu Cheng Qui Fu, who stresses the need for extension of the rail networks.

Does COSCO intend to invest in the rest of the port, too, which today
is managed by the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP)? AMNA speaks with
representatives of the port employees, and examines the prospects
opening up from the agreement with Hewlett Packard and TrainOSE to use
Cosco's cargo terminal in the port of Piraeus as a hub to distribute
the electronics giant's products in central Europe, Middle East, North
Africa, the eastern Mediterranean and eastern Europe. How do the Greek
shipowners view the prospects opening up for the country's largest port?

The study by AMNA and George Kouvaras will be uploaded on AMNA's main
web page on Wednesday.

With this study, AMNA inaugurates a new service addressed to television
stations and website.

More information is available from AMNA's marketing department, at tel:
210-6400560.

[26] Greek stocks end 2.28 pct higher

Greek stocks ended sharply higher on the Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday
as the market reacted positively to news of a successful completion of a
debt buy back programme, a development which paves the way for the release
of an aid tranche during Thursday's Eurogroup meeting. The composite index
of the market jumped 2.28 percent to end at 872.03 points, the highest
closing since October 26. Turnover was a moderate 62.16 million euros.

The Big Cap index ended 2.32 percent higher and the Mid Cap index ended
1.68 percent up. Utilities (6.57 percent), Raw Materials (5.27 percent)
and Personal Products (4.41 percent) scored the biggest percentage gains
of the day, while Commerce (1.79 percent) and Technology (0.76 percent)
suffered losses.

PPC (7.54 percent), Jumbo (5.87 percent) and Alpha Bank (5.03 percent)
were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Folli Follie (1.80
percent), Cyprus Bank (1.40 percent) and Titan (0.87 percent) were top
losers. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 109 to 50 with another 18
issues unchanged. Dromeas (29.68 percent), Mathios (27.49 percent) and
Hellenic Sugar (25.74 percent) were top gainers, while Alsinco (19.91
percent), Attica Holdings (19.44 percent) and HOL (18.86 percent) were
top losers

Sector indices ended as follows:

Industrials:  +1.55%

Commercial:  -1.79%

Construction:  +0.15%

Oil & Gas:  +0.80%

Personal & Household:  +4.41%

Raw Materials:  +5.27%

Travel & Leisure:  +1.51%

Technology:  -0.76%

Telecoms:  +2.72%

Banks:  +2.41%

Food & Beverages:  +2.53%

Health:  +2.60%

Utilities:  +6.57%

Financial Services:  +2.45%

The stocks with the highest turnover were OPAP, National Bank, OTE and
Alpha Bank.

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

Alpha Bank:  1.67

Public Power Corp (PPC):  5.56

HBC Coca Cola:  17.00

Hellenic Petroleum:  6.93

National Bank of Greece:  1.40

EFG Eurobank Ergasias:  0.70

OPAP:  5.55

OTE:  4.53

Bank of Piraeus:  0.39

Titan:  13.68

[27] Greek bond market closing report

The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds
shrank further to 13.75 pct in the domestic electronic secondary bond
market on Tuesday, with the Greek bond yielding 15.07 pct and the German
Bund 1.32 pct. There was no turnover in the market. Greek bond prices have
risen substantially since the country announced a debt buy back programe.

In interbank markets, interest rates continued moving lower. The
12-month rate fell to 0.55 pct, the six-month rate eased to 0.33 pct,
the three-month rate was 0.18 pct and the one-month rate was 0.11 pct.

[28] ADEX closing report

The December contract on the FTSE 20 index was trading around its
fair value in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Tuesday, with turnover
rising to 27.892 million euros. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 9,695
contracts worth 14.763 million euros, with 32,998 open positions in the
market. Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 59,782 contracts
worth 13.129 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National
Bank's contracts (15,056), followed by Alpha Bank (8,732), Piraeus Bank
(6,179), Cyprus Bank (2,829), MIG (4,253), OTE (4,446), PPC (3,272), OPAP
(6,401), Cyprus Popular Bank (1,285), Mytilineos (957), Sidenor (680),
Eurobank (1,422), GEK (1,351), Ellaktor (1,057) and Intralot (1,193).

[29] Foreign Exchange rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:

U.S. dollar 1.318

Pound sterling  0.819

Danish kroner  7.571

Swedish krone 8.774

Japanese yen  108.72

Swiss franc  1.229

Norwegian kroner 7.447

Canadian dollar  1.301

Australian dollar  1.256

General News

[30] Ski resorts in Greece open

The snowfall in northern Greece combined with the low temperatures gave
the opportunity to a large number of ski resorts to open before the
Christmas holidays.

The snow season was inaugurated last weekend at the ski resorts of
Karpenissi, Vassilitsa, Pisoderi and Kaimaktsalan.

The thick snow that has fallen has covered the pistes in white and
the skiers can now enjoy their downhills not only on the weekends but
throughout the entire week.

The ski resorts of Kalavryta and 3-5 Pigadia have completed maintenance
work and are ready to open, probably this weekend if the snow coverage
is satisfactory.

Moreover, the works at the ski resorts of Seli, Elatohori, Metsovo and
Falakro have been completed and they are ready to open in the coming days.

[31] Powerful females of antiquity featured at Cycladic Museum

Twenty-four high-born females whose lives span 500 years will be featured
through their burial findings at a Museum of Cycladic Art exhibition
opening on Thursday and running to April 10, 2013.

Titled "Princesses of the Mediterranean at the Dawn of History," the
show will feature artefacts such as jewellery, clothes and fragments of
furniture from burials of princesses, aristocrats and priestesses dated to
1000 B.C.-500 B.C. and discovered in Greece, Cyprus and Italy. Specific
burial sites include Athens, Oinopia (present Aegina), Eleutherna (in
northwest Crete), Sindos (near Thessaloniki) and Tuscany in western Italy.

[32] Organ donation law slated for 2013 will allow opting out

Greek citizens will be able to opt out of having their organs donated
after death once a new blanket law of "Presumed Consent" goes into
effect on June 1, 2013, the National Transplant Organisation (EOM)
said on Tuesday.

Responding to online reports, EOM said that there is no deadline
for opting out. Citizens will also be able to exempt their underage
children. The law is strict on donations, and no organ may be removed
from cadavers without family consent, the agency noted.

Weather forecast

[33] Temperature drop on Wednesday

Overcast gradually turning to rain and local thunderstorms throughout
Greece, improving at the Aegean Sea while continuing at night in the
rest of the country and turning to light snow in the north. Northerly
winds in central and northern Greece, westerly in the south, from
4 Beaufort rising to 8 at sea but dropping gradually throughout the
country. Temperatures as low as -4C (8C at the Aegean) to 16C. In Athens,
the same, with temperatures from 3C to 16C. In Thessaloniki, the same,
with temperatures 0C to 8C.

[34] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

The changes to shop working hours, the completion of the bonds buy-back
procedure and the new tax bill to be tabled on Tuesday in parliament as
well as the imminent increase in PPC electricity rates, dominated the
headlines on Tuesday in Athens' newspapers.

AVGHI: "Sunday holiday a prey to the market".

DIMOKRATIA: "Government looting the large families (with more than three
children), too".

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: "Lights off".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "PPC demands 30 percent rate increase".

ESTIA: "The strangling of the economy".

ETHNOS: "New map on working hours, fuel and market".

IMERISSIA: "The market opens - Landmark decision on small shops' operation
on all Sundays".

KATHIMERINI: "Open on Sundays, too".

LOGOS: "Abolition of Sunday holiday the final blow".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Small shops open on Sundays".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Hands off of the Sunday holiday".

TA NEA: "End to tax returns!".

6 DAYS: "Reduction of university schools and number of students".

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