Societe Generale

The Bilderberg Club, the exclusive club of the powerful that has been associated with the most extreme conspiracy theories, turned 70 this year.

European markets reacted positively to the results of the first round of parliamentary voting in France, with the euro strengthening on the foreign exchange market and stocks opening higher on Monday. Marine Le Pen's National Rally secured the lead in the election, but with a smaller margin than anticipated by pre-election polls.

Greece's next market foray with a new bond is possible as early as next month, according to estimates.

The Treasury has announced it raised a total of 2 billion euros through a euro-denominated bond issue, bringing the total borrowing in international markets this year to $5.2 billion.

Earlier this week, the Treasury mandated Deutsche Bank, HSBC, JP Morgan and Societe Generale for the bond due 2030.

The Greek state is proceeding with the issue of a new 10-year bond and has hired six banks to lead the the deal, according to an Athens Stock Exchange announcement on Monday.

Major investment firms kicked off the new year with a barrage of positive recommendations for Greek bonds ahead of the country's first market foray for 2024, expected soon, as well as the start of bond reissues planned by the Public Debt Management Agency.

The Federal Reserve extended its year-long fight against high inflation on March 22 by raising its key interest rate by a quarter-point despite concerns that higher borrowing rates could worsen the turmoil that has gripped the banking system.

Greece is likely to make its 2023 market debut on Tuesday with a syndicated issue of a new 10-year bond, in the context of the front-heavy strategy by the Public Debt Management Agency, in view of the further interest rate increases expected by the European Central Bank, but also general elections, which may cause market volatility and instability.

Analysts are split on when Greece may return to investment grade, in what is seen as a difficult year for the eurozone bond market due to the ECB's aggressive stance, while the national elections are firmly on investors' radars.

French banking group Societe Generale said yesterday it was ceasing activities in Russia and selling its majority stake in Rosbank, weeks after Ukraine's leader urged French firms to leave over Moscow's invasion of his country.