News archive of March 2017

Eurobank swings to profit in 2016

Eurobank was profitable for a fourth straight quarter in October-December but earnings shrank despite slightly lower provisions for bad debt.

The third-largest Greek lender by assets, in which the national bank rescue fund owns a 2.4 percent stake, on Wednesday reported net earnings of 38.3 million euros, down 55 percent from 85 million in the third quarter.

OPAP's core earnings drop in fourth quarter

Greece's OPAP, Europe's fourth-biggest betting firm, on Wednesday posted a 19.2 percent drop in fourth-quarter core profit, hurt by an austerity tax.

OPAP, which was fully privatized in 2013, currently offers sports betting and lotteries through a network of about 5,750 outlets in Greece and Cyprus.

Greek gov't bond yields tumble

Greek government bond yields tumbled to multi-week lows on Wednesday after Reuters reported that Greece had reached an agreement with its lenders on some of the main issues in the indebted country's current bailout talks.

Short-dated Greek bond yields fell to a two-month low of 7.47 percent and were last down 50 basis points.

Hourican to remain BoC CEO till end-2018

Bank of Cyprus said John Hourican will remain as its chief executive until the end of 2018, once again extending his stay.

Hourican, the former head of investment banking at Royal Bank of Scotland, had been due to leave Bank of Cyprus in February 2018 but said its board agreed on Tuesday to extend his appointment.

[Reuters]

146 feared missing in Mediterranean, says UNHCR

About 146 migrants are feared missing after their boat capsized after leaving Libya, according to a Gambian man who was rescued following the disaster, the United Nations’ refugee agency said on Wednesday.
The man was rescued by a Spanish military ship participating in the EU’s “Operation Sophia” to crack down on smugglers, and then brought to the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Trump moves to roll back Obama climate measures

President Donald Trump declared the end of a "war on coal" March 28, as he moved to curb rules that underpin American emissions targets and a major global climate accord.

Following through on an election promise, Trump signed an order to review some of his predecessor Barack Obama's climate legacy, declaring an end to "job-killing regulations."

American who gave hope to refugees receives award

"The refugees we've housed at our facilities once again feel human. From the moment they arrive, they get their own room with a door and a key." This is the secret to the success of Elpida Home, according to Amed Khan, the founder of the operation.

Turkish official hopes overseas turnout in referendum

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş on March 28 called for a high turnout of Turkish voters living abroad for the upcoming constitutional referendum.        

Speaking at an airport in Turkey's Ordu province on the Black Sea coast, he said overseas voters would "show their belonging to Turkey" by casting  their ballots.        

Greek Super League champion to be decided in play-offs from next season

The Greek Super League, the country’s professional football body, has decided to limit the competing teams from 16 to 14 from the next season by a narrow majority. The body’s board members also decided to change the structure of the end of season play-offs, with the league’s champion also participating in the mini-championship at the end of the regular season.

Art dealer accepts prized coffin's return to Turkey

Lawyers have said a Roman Empire-era coffin depicting the 12 labors of Hercules is set to go home to Turkey, ending a legal battle over a prized artifact that had mysteriously turned up in Geneva's secretive customs-office warehouse years ago.

Pages