Panamax fixtures keep hopes alive.

(From Lloyds List)

Dry Trade

GREEK brokers seem more melancholy than usual at this late stage of the summer as they contemplate not only the end of their holidays but the blowing out of the country's Olympic Games flame at the weekend, writes Nigel Lowry in Athens.

That marked the end of an event unlikely to be repeated in their lifetime, but at this point in time no-one wants to believe that the booming bulk markets of earlier this year cannot be rekindled.

The August bank holiday in the UK this week did not assist in establishing a clear picture of current market sentiment, with virtually no spot business being reported from the Atlantic basin since the end of last week. Despite some sharp falls in the panamax index since the market ran out of puff during last week, rates remain relatively strong, ...