No Greek pension deal yet as creditors end first post-bailout review

Greece's international creditors seemed likely on Friday to withhold instant approval for its plan to put mandated pension cuts on hold next year, as they wrapped up their first post-bailout inspection of the country's finances.

The country emerged from the biggest economic rescue in history in late August after almost nine years of austerity. It still owes billions and is under post-bailout monitoring by the European Union and International Monetary Fund to ensure it does not deviate from fiscaltargets.

Athens argues it has enough fiscal leeway to unwind cuts in pensions of up to 18 percent that are scheduled to kick in from January while maintaining the healthy surplus its lenders say it needs in order to keep its finances on a sustainable trajectory.

One source said speculation that the inspectors agreed with Greece's view was premature. "A good deal of work is...

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