Eurozone crisis

Tsipras has told his EU counterparts that if a Brexit deal is not concluded before the European Parliament elections in May then the UK will have to hold EU elections as well, an eventuality that would deal a severe blow to Brexiteers and leave room for scrapping Brexit altogether.

Greece's government bond yields dropped across the curve again on Thursday to their lowest level in over 13 years, with one analyst citing improved Greek primary surplus projections from the International Monetary Fund and strong employment data as reasons.
Data showed that Greece's January unemployment rate was the lowest reading since July 2011.

The flow of money from abroad for the acquisition of properties in Greece soared 157.7 percent in January compared to the same month in 2018, according to Bank of Greece data, as international investors continue to focus on the country's real estate sector.

Eurozone finance ministers agreed on Friday to disburse nearly 1 billion euros as a grant to Greece as part of a post-bailout program of monitoring reforms, eurozone officials said.

Bulgaria has cut its 2019 economic growth forecast to 3.4 percent from 3.7 percent with domestic demand expected to grow at a moderate pace, the finance ministry said on Thursday, reports Reuters. 

In its spring macroeconomic forecast, the ministry said it expected the Balkan country's economy to grow 3.3 percent next year.

Greece has respected its commitments under a post-bailout program, the European Commission said on Wednesday, paving the way for Athens to receive nearly 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in new grants.

The European Commission recommended on Wednesday the disbursement of nearly 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in a grant to Greece as part of its post-bailout program after Athens passed reforms required by creditors.

Greek government bond yields dropped on Tuesday after a Bloomberg report suggested the country is considering an early repayment of part of its loans from the International Monetary Fund.

Greece's parliament approved on Friday a bill extending the protection of borrowers from foreclosures on their primary homes after tense negotiations with its international creditors.

Greek retail sales by volume fell 2.9 percent in January compared to the same month last year after a downwardly revised 0.1 percent decline in December, statistics service ELSTAT said on Friday.
Retail sales were led lower by clothing, footwear, pharmaceutical products and cosmetics.