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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-07-05
CONTENTS
[01] 'Cautious optimism' over economy
[02] Stocks at lowest turnover
[01] 'Cautious optimism' over economy
(ANA-MPA) -- Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou on Monday
expressed what he called his "cautious optimistic" over economic
developments in the country, saying the economy was on the "right
track" with visible first results sending a significant message to the
society and markets.
Presenting the ministryâs report for the first half of the year, the
minister said "news is generally good" over the execution of the state
budget, while he sounded optimistic that economic recession in the
second quarter would be around -3.0 pct (after a -2.5-pct decline in
the first quarter), (ANA-MPA) and stressed that a forecast for a
4.0-pct decline in GDP this year (as envisaged in the memorandum) was
excessively pessimistic. He was adamant that the government would not
introduce any new austerity measures and urged citizens to remain calm
and confident over economic developments. (ANA-MPA)
[02] Stocks at lowest turnover
Stocks eased slightly in the Athens Stock Exchange with the market
recording a new record-low turnover for the year.
The composite index eased 0.07 pct to end at 1,450.06 points, with
turnover at 38.161 million euros. The Big Cap index fell 0.19 pct, the
Mid Cap index rose 0.42 pct and the Small Cap index fell 1.45 pct. The
Media (3.13 pct) and Utilities (2.99 pct) scored the biggest percentage
gains of the day, while Chemicals (2.96 pct) and Constructions (2.08
pct) suffered losses. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 79 to 63 with
another 45 issues unchanged. Haidemenos (13.48 pct), Mohlos (10 pct)
and ELVE (9.09 pct) were top gainers, while Vell Group (19.81 pct), NEL
(11.11 pct) and Nafpaktos Spinn Mills (9.68 pct) were top losers.
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