Business News

Athens shares jump on speculation over referendum's fate

Nov 3, 2011, 11:53 GMT

Athens - The Greek share market jumped more than 2 per cent Thursday as speculation mounted that a referendum on a European bailout plan will be abandoned.

Several ministers and ruling party lawmakers called for Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to step down in favor of a coalition national unity government that would approve and implement Greece's bailout package without a referendum.

Greece requires vital bailout funds to avoid imminent bankruptcy.