Greek crisis hits financial markets

As fear that Greece’s debt crisis will permeate the market rises, investors across the market are se

Financial markets have fallen further as investors sold shares on fears about the impact of Greece's economic crisis.

London, Paris and Frankfurt opened with more than a 1 per cent drop, and Asian markets soon followed the trend.

The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou plans to form a new cabinet to implement a debt restructuring plan. In order to receive bail-out funds from the European Union and International Monetary fund to prevent default on government debts, Papandreou must pass new spending cuts and state property sell-offs.

Protesters have filled the streets of Greece. More than 30,000 rioters encircled the parliament building, shouting angry demands for the resignation of legislatures. The protest grew violent, and the Greek police intervened with tear gas and more than 40 arrests.

George Floridis, Greece's now former deputy finance minister, resigned Thursday in a demonstration of his disapproval of the lack of economic reform. There is speculation that Papandreou may replace his finance minister George Papaconstantinou, known for his infamous budget cuts.

The debt crisis is made worse by the recent unemployment figure of 15.9 per cent for the quarter, an increase of 1.7 per cent from the same quarter in 2010.

Germany has suggested a restructuring of Greece's debt that the French and European Central Bank fear could result in a default with effects that would reach the entire eurozone.

France's three largest banks may face credit downgrade because of exposure to Greek debt.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is encouraging other European leaders to come to agreements with Greece in an effort to stabilise the euro to continue growth in the eurozone.

4 comments

south pacific's picture

A natural law, as Darwin described it in his theory,

adjust to changing circumstances or perish.

It is the choice for Greece.

Then there is the framework of a capitalist society, dog eat dog. Survival of the fittest.

How to survive in a pack of wolves? You have to howl like a wolf.

Keep the above in mind Greece.

Protesting gets you nowhere. It merely uses up your energy. Energy needed to get yourself out of the hole.

Only in religious fables do the meek inherit the world.

Yes it is a cruel world.

Gladiator's picture

Most of protests are Staged and very well Orchestrated, they pretend fighting but do not hurt each other. This is worth it to get hundreds of billions from EU. Greeks are very smart; the deception started with the Trojan Horse and is going on with very well orchestrated “PROTESTS”. If you want Greece to be paid off, for the Enormous Army, Universal Free Health Care, Lucrative Pensions, and Taxes that they never Pay, then you pay them by yourself, PAY THEM OFF, BY YOUR OWN POCKET.
DON’T LET GREECE TO DRAG YOU DOWN. CUT OFF THE ROPE, AND LET THEM GO FIRST…

Bumper's picture

Most of protests are Staged and very well Orchestrated, they pretend fighting but do not hurt each other. This is worth it to get hundreds of billions from EU. Greeks are very smart; the deception started with the Trojan Horse and is going on with very well orchestrated “PROTESTS”. If you want Greece to be paid off, for the Enormous Army, Universal Free Health Care, Lucrative Pensions, and Taxes that they never Pay, then you pay them by yourself, PAY THEM OFF, BY YOUR OWN POCKET.
DON’T LET GREECE TO DFRAG YOU DOWN. CUT THE ROPE AND LET THEM GO FIRST…

Maria111's picture

The "meek" here are the banksters who looted pubic treasuries and now want more. The banksters collected nice fees for providing credits which could not be paid back, and then reloaded the responsibilities on the shoulders of common folks.
Financial serviced have been converted into the weapon of mass destruction. Greece should demand restructuring of her debt and save its state assets for the people.

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