FinMin, top banker optimistic on economy’s prospects

The new Finance Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, and the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, had a first meeting Tuesday to discuss policy, focusing on fiscal policy, banks and private debt.

The two officials met for about 90 minutes and then told reporters they had a "shared understanding" about the state of the economy, as well as a shred optimism about its prospects.

"Both of us are optimistic about the Greek economy's course. We are at a point where there is a confluence of political and economic factors that feed this optimism," Hatzidakis said.

Stournaras, on his part, said that "there is a shared understanding," adding that "the omens are excellent."

On fiscal policy, the Finance Minister said that "the Greek economy has made progress on investments, export, the GDP and on the jobless rate. And it is up to use move even further by...