Word: jannings
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...Every Jan. 6, Greeks celebrate Epiphany with a ceremony full of symbolism and hope. All over the country, priests throw a gold cross into open water and young men dive in to retrieve it. The winners get a blessing on the spot; everyone else takes home some holy water for a trouble-free new year. Newly elected Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou attended ceremonies on the Aegean island of Lesbos this year, but with Greece sinking under debt and a huge budget deficit as fast as a priest's crucifix, Papandreou is going to need more than holy water...
According to an 80-page finance-ministry plan released on Jan. 15, that revolution will reduce spending by cutting operating expenses by 10% and freezing wages and new hiring. The plan also calls for an improved tax-collection system and the creation of an independent statistics service, which should make it harder for officials to manipulate data. Parliament has passed a 20% tax on alcohol and tobacco, and other tax hikes are rumored. This worries executives like Doros Constantinou, the CEO of Coca-Cola Hellenic, which sells soft drinks in 28 countries. "An increase in taxes will have an impact...
...Brussels has okayed the Greek austerity plan but warned that it will be subject to unprecedented monitoring. Joaquin Almunia, the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs said Athens' targets were "ambitious" but "achievable." Importantly, Greece managed to raise about $11 billion in its first postcrisis bond offering on Jan. 25. But relief was short-lived. Within days the spread over 10-year German bonds, the European benchmark, reached a record high. The bottom line: until the Greek government delivers results, the pressure...
...report released Jan. 13, ratings agency Moody's said that Greece, along with Portugal, was likely to suffer a "slow death" as it uses more and more of its income to pay off debt. With the cost of that debt heading north, Greek banks could face further problems. "It's like they have a bomb in their hands," says investor Melissaris. "If rates keep climbing, it'll explode." (See the worst business deals...
...Jan Hurd, POULSBO, WASH...