Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Katseli meets union leaders

[02] Bond action Tuesday

[03] Greek stocks soar by 2.82 pct

[01] Katseli meets union leaders

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Katseli stressed that the shipping sector is spearheading Greece�s international presence, pointing out that the seaport of Piraeus will be promoted into a shipping hub, coastal shipping services will be upgraded, more incentives will be given to sector professionals, and shipping diplomacy will be boosted by assuming an active role in international shipping organizations.

Referring to the COSCO agreement and the ongoing strike action by 1,500 dockworkers at the Port of Piraeus, Katseli stated that the outstanding issues will be settled through dialogue. She underlined that an agreement has been reached with COSCO affiliate SEP S.A. to proceed with substantive dialogue immediately and its conclusions will have a retrospective effect beginning Oct. 1, 2009.

In the five-hour meeting Katseli was briefed on the problems faced by the shipping sector, the country�s seaports and the seamen who have already expressed their opposition to the break up of the mercantile marine, Aegean and island policy ministry and its merger with other government ministries.

The Greek Shipowners Union (EEE) board outlined the problems of the shipping sector, while the OLP representatives handed over to the minister the files with the COSCO 35-year-long contract. A memorandum with the problems faced by the roughly 20,000 Greek seamen was also presented to the minister by the PNO delegation.

[02] Bond action Tuesday

The bonds will also be made available to natural persons with tax-free yields on condition that they are kept until they mature.

Natural persons can obtain the bonds through a public subscription at any bank or brokerage, up to a maximum sum of 15,000 euros for each private person.

Subscription opens from Monday until Wednesday, continuing until Friday, October 23 for unlimited amounts at a price set by banks and brokerages.

The finance ministry also announced a new issue of 13-week interest-bearing bonds on October 20.

[03] Greek stocks soar by 2.82 pct

All sectors moved upwards, with the Insurance (8.57 pct), Health (7.44 pct), Banks (4.15), Financial Services (4.13 pct), Industrial (4.08 pct) and Technology (3.94 pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day.

The FTSE 20 index moved up 3.26 pct, the FTSE 40 index rose 3.79 pct and the FTSE 80 index ended 4.58 pct higher. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 190 to 45 with another 37 issues unchanged.

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