Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-10-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] IOBE report warns against fiscal loosening

[02] Deputy FM calls attention to human trafficking, during conference

[03] Modern Art Museum to display works by 57 Greek artists

[04] IKA doctors call for strike from Monday to Thursday

[05] Quake measuring 5.8 points on the Richter scale jolts Kalamata

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Saturday

[08] Greek stocks end week 0.76 percent higher

[01] IOBE report warns against fiscal loosening

Government measures to increase social spending in the country could be implemented without any impact on economic stability if the government, at the same time, adopted more effective procedures of inspections and cutting public spending, an report by IOBE said on Friday.

The Institute of Economic and Industrial Research, in its quarterly report on the Greek economy, stressed that the country felt the impact of a global economic slowdown to a lesser degree, with the country's Gross Domestic Product rising with high growth rates - the fastest in the eurozone this year, supported by an increase in investments and a continued expansion of consumer demand.

The report, however, noted the danger of fiscal loosening, as fiscal management in 2003 was expected to diverge from initial targets, with primary spending estimated to rise by 7.6 percent, up from a 6.0 percent budget target. All government deficits were currently above budget targets in 2003, while fiscal policy was expected to remain unchanged in 2004, the report said.

''Adopting a more expansionary fiscal policy was under discussion in other European states,'' IOBE said. ''But in Greece conditions are so different that a more expansion fiscal policy poses risks to monetary stability.''

[02] Deputy FM calls attention to human trafficking, during conference

Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos on Friday called attention to the problem of human trafficking, during a relevant two-day conference in Ioannina Greece, which was organized by the Center of Research and Support for Victims of Abuse and Social Disenfranchising, in cooperation with the foreign ministry and European non-governmental organizations.

He underlined that Greece ratified and is implementing harsh laws for the confrontation of the problem, both in combating it and providing comfort for the victims.

The ''Human Trafficking: Methods of detection and mechanisms of support'' conference was attended by scientists from Greece and abroad, government officials, representatives of NGOs and the wife of U.S. ambassador to Athens Bonny Miller.

[03] Modern Art Museum to display works by 57 Greek artists

The State Modern Art Museum in Thessaloniki will be displaying 75 works, paintings, sculptures and engravings, by 57 Greek artists, next month based on an ''old'' inspiration related to the Olympic Games.

The exhibition the State Modern Art Museum will be displaying is titled ''Olympic spirit and modern Greek art.

The exhibition, due to be inaugurated by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Friday night, is organised by the State Modern Art Museum in cooperation with ''ADAM/PERGAMOS ABEE'' publications and with support by the culture ministry.

[04] IKA doctors call for strike from Monday to Thursday

Social Security Foundation (IKA) doctors on Friday announced that they will go on strike from Monday to Thursday demanding their colleagues, that were hired on renewable yearly contracts, be hired on a permanent basis.

The leadership of IKA called the reasons for the strike unjustified and requested of the doctors not to strike and cause problems to the insured, adding that a recent legislation through Parliament mandated the implementation of an agreement between the doctors' union and IKA, resolving such outstanding issues.

[05] Quake measuring 5.8 points on the Richter scale jolts Kalamata

An earthquake measuring 5.8 points on the Richter scale occurred in the sea regions east of the island of Kythira on Friday.

Accoring to the sesismological station of Thessaloniki's Aristotelion University, the epicentre of the quake was in the sea region about 100 kilometres south of Kalamata, in the Peloponnese.

The earthquake was felt in Kalamata. There were no reports of damage.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.167

Pound sterling 0.699

Danish kroner 7.488

Swedish kroner 9.057

Japanese yen 128.2

Swiss franc 1.563

Norwegian kroner 8.310

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.540

Australian dollar 1.694

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Saturday

All parts of the country will see cloud and showers, with storms spreading from the west to the centre and north overnight. Winds north-northeasterly, light to moderate. In the north, temperatures will range from 6C to 16C; in the centre 10C to 19C; and in the rest of the country from 13C to 24C. Temperatures in Athens between 15C and 22C; and in Thessaloniki from 11C to 15C.

[08] Greek stocks end week 0.76 percent higher

Greek stocks ended higher the last trading session of the week in the Athens Stock Exchange supported by a wave of buying activity in blue chip stocks during the last five minutes of trading.

The general index ended 0.64 percent higher at 2,124.70 points, near the day's highs, sharply off the day's lows of 2,101.78 points. The index ended the week with a net gain of 0.76 percent. Turnover was moderate 111.1 million euros.

Traders attributed the last-minute reversal of the market to the closing of positions in the market due to the expiring of October contracts in the Athens Derivatives Exchange.

The Retail and Investment sectors suffered losses (0.53 percent and 0.10 percent, respectively), while the IT, Holding and Construction sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (1.48 percent, 1.48 percent and 1.07 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.60 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.90 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.48 percent up.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 190 to 104 with another 62 issues unchanged.

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