Economy

Shares of Cyprus Airways will be delisted from the Cyprus Stock Exchange on January 13, bourse authorities said on Friday, in a fresh blow to the ailing carrier that is under EU scrutiny over concerns that it received illegal state aid.

As of the start of 2015, anyone hired in Greece’s public sector will be given their jobs on a trial basis for two years and with a starting salary equivalent to those offered in the private sector.

Growing optimism among traders and investors that this month’s elections will not result in a leap into the unknown for the economy, reflected also in statements by Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis, gave local stocks fresh impetus on Friday, although turnover remained very low in what was the first session of the new year.

188 companies to be declared bankrupt - minister

BELGRADE -- Of some 512 companies that are currently looking for new owners through the Privatization Agency, 188 will be declared bankrupt, Zeljko Sertic has said.

The Serbian economy minister also explained that procedures to sell about 90 companies have been abandoned.

Turkey’s manufacturing upturn was sustained in the final month of 2014, albeit at a weaker pace, according to the latest Turkey Manufacturing project and manufacturing information (PMI) survey data.

Output, new orders and purchases of inputs all rose more slowly since November, but employment growth for goods producers hit a three-year high.

France's influential economist Thomas Piketty, author of the bestseller "Capital in the 21st Century", on Thursday refused to accept the country's highest award, the Legion d'honneur, to criticise the Socialist government in power.
      

Investments by Athens-listed companies expanded by almost two-thirds in the first nine months of last year compared with the year before, adding up to 2.5 billion euros against 1.5 billion in 2013.

What we are all wishing for at the change of the year is that the country manages to avoid a period of even greater instability and a deeper financial crisis in 2015.

Turkey welcomed the New Year with hikes on tobacco and alcohol taxes just a few days after announcing increases in fees, stamp taxes and official fines for traffic and tax offences.

According to a statement released in the Official Gazette on Jan. 1, fixed taxes charged on alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and tobacco products have been raised.

Gas prices in Bulgaria drop by 0.05% as of January 1, 2015, following a decision of the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR).

As a result of the price decrease, 1000 cubic meters of natural gas will cost BGN 603.14, VAT excluded, excise duty excluded, in the first quarter of 2015.