GREECE - Factors to Watch on May 14

ATHENS, May 14 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events which may affect Greek financial markets on Thursday:

BANK OF CYPRUS SEES 2009 NET PROFIT DROP

Cyprus's largest lender Bank of Cyprus BOC.CY (BOCr.AT) expects 2009 net profit to drop to between 300 million euros and 400 million euros, its chairman said on Wednesday. [ID:nLD804870]

GREECE SAYS RUSSIA TO SIGN SOUTH STREAM GAS DEALS

Russia' Gazprom (GAZP.MM) will sign on Friday agreements to build the South Stream pipeline with all countries involved, Greece's development minister said on Wednesday. [ID:nLD390057]

SHELL TO DIVEST GREEK RETAIL NETWORK

Shell (RDSa.L) is reportedly close to a deal to sell its retail gas station network in Greece, financial daily Imerisia reported citing unnamed sources. Hellenic Petroleum (HEPr.AT) is among the first companies that have expressed an interest, according to the paper. The two companies' representatives declined to comment, the report said.

www.imerisia.gr

AKTOR-VINCI JV SUBMITS LOWEST BID FOR ROMANIAN PROJECT

Ellaktor's (HELr.AT) construction arm Aktor, via a joint venture with France's Vinci (SGEF.PA), was declared the lowest bidder for the construction and management of a 2 billion euro highway project in Romania, daily Imerisia wrote.

S&B Q1 PRETAX PROFIT DROPS 83.9 PERCENT

S&B Industrial Minerals (BARr.AT) reported a 83.9 percent drop in first-quarter pretax profit to 1.069 million euros, with sales falling 28.4 percent to 79.557 million euros, financial daily Kerdos wrote.

www.kerdos.gr

ANEK LINES AGREES TO BUY HELLENIC SEAWAYS STAKE FROM MINOAN

ANEK Lines (ANKr.AT) announced it agreed to acquire a 33.35 percent stake in ferry operator Hellenic Seaways from Minoan Lines (MILr.AT) at a price of 125 million euros, financial daily To Vima reported.

www.tovima.gr

FORTHNET Q1 LOSS NARROWS TO 8.9 MLN EUROS

Forthnet (FORr.AT), Greece's No.2 internet provider, posted a narrower first-quarter loss on Thursday and reported an operating profit after its acquisition of the country's biggest subscription television channel. [ID:nLD865161]

GREEK PUBLIC STRIKE TO GROUND FLIGHTS THURSDAY

Greek flights will be grounded for four hours on Thursday when air-traffic controllers walk off the job to join a 24-hour public sector strike against salary cuts and pension reforms. [ID:nLD545902]

GREEK Q1 GDP GROWTH SEEN SLOWING TO 0.5% Y/Y

Greece's economy likely slowed to a 0.5 percent annual expansion pace in the first quarter from 2.4 percent in the last quarter of 2008, according to the median forecast of five economists surveyed by Reuters. [ID:nLD827762]

EUROPEAN SHARES SET FOR MIXED OPEN, COMMODITIES EYED

European shares were set for a mixed open on Thursday after losses in overseas markets, with a gloomy U.S. retail sales report the previous session prompting investors to trade cautiously. [ID:nLE393475]

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