Financial crises

National Bank of Greece (NBG) became the latest of Greece's four major lenders to successfully tap international markets as prospects of a recovery in the Greek economy lure investors.

 Alogoskoufis law of 2008 not only supported the credit sector but has also been boosting budget revenues

By Yiannis Papadoyiannis & Sotiris Nikas

Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras conveyed Greece’s request for a lightening of the country’s debt burden to his eurozone counterparts at a summit in Brussels on Monday but, as expected, foreign officials indicated that a decision on this issue would not be considered until the fall.

 Social discontent and higher uncertainty may hide surprises in the European Parliament election result

By Dimitris Kontogiannis

Credit rating agency Moody's on Tuesday upgraded the Greek banking system from negative to stable and said the country's economy would return to growth this year after a six-year recession.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde is to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on May 2 in Washington for talks expected to focus on the broader economic situation in the eurozone in general and to touch on the Greek economy and on the prospects for a launch of talks on lightening Greece's debt burden.

National Bank of Greece is preparing to price a senior unsecured bond at a lower yield than its sovereign, in a sign that the «doom-loop» between sovereigns and their banks might finally be broken.

By Sotiris Nikas

Eurostat is expected on Wednesday to ratify the 2013 primary budget surplus, which will serve as the trigger for the further lightening of the Greek debt. The announcement will be the focus of Thursday’s Euro Working Group along with the presentation of a new growth plan for the Greek economy aimed at changing conditions in the country.

By Eleni Chrepa

Greece's successful return to bond markets is the most recent in a series of "positive messages" for the economy that included the country posting a record year for tourism and forecasting an even stronger 2014, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said.

 After recording a positive result in the 2013 budget by 3.38 bln euros, Athens expects lightening of debt

By Sotiris Nikas