The European Stability Mechanism (ESM)

Greek state bonds on Friday recorded the best performance in the eurozone, with the yield of the 10-year bond dropping by an additional 5 basis points to 1.10 percent after a record low on Thursday.

Last week's 15-year Greek government bond issue was successful, but not quite good enough for the state to immediately repay another section of the loans from the International Monetary Fund early.

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) has appointed Paolo Fioretti as mission chief for Greece, replacing Nicola Giammarioli who held the post since 2015, the ESM said in a statement.

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) on Thursday announced that the Board of Directors of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) decided to reduce to zero the step-up margin due from Greece for the period between 17 June 2019 and 31 December 2019, as part of the medium-term debt relief measures agreed for the country.

The fact that Greece pays an interest rate of only 1.17 percent for its 10-year government debt is a sign that the country is now implementing a credible policy, the head of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Klaus Regling said in an interview published Wednesday.

International rating agency Moody's on Thursday described Greece's planned early repayment of part of the loans issued by the International Monetary Fund as a "credit positive." Amounting to 2.7 billion euros, the payment was approved on Monday by the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

The boards of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) agreed on Monday to allow Greece to repay earlier a part of its expensive loan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), without paying an equal amount to the two organizations.

Finance Minister Christos Staikouras sent a letter on Monday asking the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) to approve the repayment of the expensive part of Greece's loan from the International Monetary Fund before it is due.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Monday that Greece has submitted its request for an early repayment of a chunk of its expensive loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), noting that the move "enhances the country's credibility, improves public debt sustainability indicators and saves resources for the Greek state."

Greece's Finance Minister Christos Staikouras will discuss a request for an early repayment of part of the country's outstanding loans to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during Friday's Eurogroup meeting in Helsinki.
Athens is keen to repay the IMF loan which is more expensive than the yields Greece currently pays in the markets on its bonds.