Different stories told by opposite ends of the market

By Dimitra Manifava

The gap between large commercial enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses is growing bigger, an annual report by the National Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) has shown.

While large companies are returning to an increase in turnover and profits, smaller ones continue to face the risk of closure by the end of 2014, the report said.

After three years of losses, larger firms enjoyed combined gains of 1 billion euros last year, the report revealed, while eight in 10 smaller enterprises spoke of a reduction in sales and earnings.

Eighty percent of firms see no negative changes in sales and profits this year, against just 40 percent of smaller peers.

The report will be presented next Wednesday.