Greek leaders' meeting ends without deal: reports (by Michael Kitchen)

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- A meeting of Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and top party leaders ended early Thursday without an agreement on austerity measures needed to receive the nation's next tranche of aid, according to reports. While most of the provisions were agreed by the ruling and opposition leaders, details over adjustment to pensions remained as a sole sticking point, Dow Jones Newswires and the Associated Press reported separately. Still, Papademos's office released a statement saying the parties has reached an agreement "in principle." The austerity package is a prerequesite for funding from the so-called "troika," consisting of the European Central Bank, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, which is helping Greece avoid default on its debts. Troika representatives reportedly met with Papademos immediately after his talks with the political leaders adjourned for the day. The euro (CUR_EURUSD) lost ground following the reports of a lack of a deal, with the currency slipping to $1.343 from $1.3264 ahead of the news.