Greece enjoyed the second-lowest petrol prices in the eurozone in June, according to the International Tourism Association (AIT) and the European Road Information Center (ERIC). Unleaded gasoline in Greece, as well in Luxembourg and Austria, averaged 1.01 euros per liter, trailing only Spain (0.95 euros/l) and ahead of Ireland (1.02 euros/l). Most expensive was the Netherlands at 1.35 euros/l. The Greek price for diesel was at 0.88 euros/l on average, just behind Luxembourg (0.87 euros/l) and ahead of Portugal (0.91 euros/l). The highest price was in Germany and Italy, at 1.10 euros/l.

The Greek Canners’ Association (EKE) is worrying about the drop in consumption of local peach preserve in Europe and the loss of markets to competitors (Spain, US, Latin America) due to costs, it said in a statement yesterday. EKE wonders why in developed as well as developing countries the cost of peach production is much lower than in Greece, adding that it would be interesting to examine the exact cost of agricultural supplies in this country as well as of the other factors which increase producers’ costs. EKE also promised to announce its position on production costs and the future of peach preserve when the current production period is over.

Companies recognize the significance of manpower in their performance. Nearly five in every six companies in Greece (82.1 percent) incorporate their human resources strategy in the official corporate policy, while 95.3 percent of firms believe the impact of their human resources departments in company strategy is satisfactory to very satisfactory, a survey of 65 firms conducted last year by PricewaterhouseCoopers has found. However, only 12.9 percent of respondents said the head of the HR department is a company board member with an active role in decision making.

Laiki Bank is upgrading its services via the Internet. Among the new services available from its website (www.laiki.gr) in English and Greek are utility bill payments (OTE, PPC), Forthnet telephone payments, tax payment contribution (IKA, VAT, TEVE), funds transfers between accounts in different banks both in Greece and abroad and between different holders within Laiki Bank, standing orders for funds transfers and utility payments (OTE, PPC, EYDAP), postdated funds transfers and payments, ability to deactivate payments to third parties, construction of beneficiary lists, management of all given orders, and even options for subscriber PIN change.

Plaisio Computers is the first listed company to announce its results for the first half of the year under International Financial Reporting Standards. Its group sales rose by 8.2 percent annually, reaching 118.99 million euros, while its pretax profits rose by 3.5 percent year-on-year, coming to 3.53 million euros. The company is distributing a dividend of 0.27 euros per share for 2004.