Economy
Review completion and SMP redemptions will decide Greece's QE eligibility
As expected, ECB President Mario Draghi announced today a Quantitative Easing (QE) programme which involves an expanded asset purchase programme up to 1.1 trillion euros. Starting from March, the programme is intended to be carried out until the end of September 2016.
Travel surplus soars 57.2 pct in November on surging tourist arrivals
Greece's travel receipts grew for the sixth successive month by 30.7 percent year on year (YoY) in November at an accelerating pace compared to the 4.6 percent YoY recorded in October, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG).
Greek current account deficit widens by 32.4 pct in November despite services surplus
Greece's current account (C/A) balance remained in negative territory for the second straight month in November, when the deficit widened by 32.4 percent to 997 million euros from 753 million last year, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG).
Eurosystem funding for Greek banks shoots up by 11.2 bln in December
Greek banks’ Eurosystem funding shot up by 11.19 billion to 56.04 billion euros at the end of December from 44.85 billion at the end of November, according to the Bank of Greece's (BoG) annual financial statement.
Industrial turnover dips again in November after upswing in two previous months
After rising in the previous two months, the Turnover Index in Industry fell by 0.7 percent in November from an upward revised 4.6 percent increase in October, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Fitch keeps Greek rating at 'B' but downgrades outlook to negative
In its scheduled sovereign rating review, Fitch revised on Friday evening Greece’s outlook to negative, while affirming its rating at ‘B’.
Central gov't cash surplus reaches 1.42 bln in 2014 after 1.19 bln deficit in Dec
Greece’s central government primary cash balance posted a surplus of 1.42 billion in 2014 from deficit of 6.72 billion in 2013, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG).
Fall in Greek building activity accelerates to 19 pct in October
Τhe number of building permits issued in Greece fell for the fifth straight month in October, when they declined by 19 percent from 11.2 percent in September, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Greek banks set for early ELA return in apparent precautionary move
Kathimerιni daily revealed on Friday that two of the four systemic banks have submitted requests to the Bank of Greece (BoG) for raising liquidity of 5 billion euros through the Emergency Liquidity Mechanism (ELA), while the other two are expected to follow suit in the coming days.
SYRIZA hits back in funding row, says it could issue T-bills and use repos
The issue of covering short-term funding needs remains at the forefront of the confrontation between the two main political parties in Greece ahead of the January 25 elections due.