Latest News from Greece
Greek yields rise as market comeback euphoria fades
By John Geddie $ Marius Zaharia
Greek bond yields rose on Friday as investors booked profits on the rally that preceded Greece's return to debt markets, with even its sought-after new five-year bond succumbing to selling pressure.
Ikonomidis: Greece supports Serbia's EU pathway
BELGRADE - Greece, which currently holds the EU presidency, will do all in its might to help Serbia on its EU pathway, Greek Ambassador to Serbia Konstantinos Ikonomidis stated on Friday.
Ikonomidis said at a debate held at the Belgrade Youth Center that he is honored to serve in Belgrade at the time when Serbia has engaged in the official talks on the EU accession.
Bulgarian Exports Decreased in Beginning of 2014
Exports to the EU dwindled by 2.6% on a yearly basis in January and was estimated at BGN 2 B.
Statistics on trade with non-EU countries yield worse results, with a 14.2% decrease in exports for January and February, the website Expert.bg reports, citing official data.
Bulgaria Hits Bottom in EC Transport Scoreboard
The European Commission has published Thursday for the first time a scoreboard on transport in the EU.
Greece Launches EUR 3 B Bond Emission on Markets
Greece is set to return on capital markets on Thursday, launching EUR 3 B worth of bonds, the first such action in more than four years.
According to results of initial price talk for the bond sale, the nation may pay between 5 and 5.25 of yield to borrow, but the rate on Thursday morning was as low as 4.95, the website Investor.bg reported.
Explosion Near Greek Central Bank Rocks Athens
A car bomb exploded in front of the Central Bank building in Greece's capital Athens. Damage was reported on neighboring buildings and shops up to 200 meters away, but no-one was injured, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini's English website.
The perimeter around the bank was sealed off by police.
Greece to end its bond market exile on Thursday, sources say
By Alex Chambers & Lefteris Papadimas
Bailed-out Greece is set to end its four-year exile from bond markets on Thursday with a five-year issue, three sources said on Wednesday.
Six Nigrita prison guards remanded in custody
Six guards from Nigrita Prison in northern Greece were remanded in custody on Tuesday after facing Serres magistrate Georgia Toutountzi as part of an ongoing probe into the death of Ilie Kareli, an Albanian prisoner. Another two guards were conditionally released.
Euro bonds ignore growth concern on ECB before Greece sells debt
Lucy Meakin & David Goodman
Europes worsening growth prospects are losing significance for bond investors as bets the European Central Bank will begin asset-purchase stimulus measures boost demand for the regions higher-yielding bonds.
Greece's imminent bond return set to provide next peripheral fillip
By John Geddie
Greece's imminent return to bond markets just two years after a massive debt restructuring, expected as early as Wednesday, lifted investor appetite for riskier credits which has stalled over the last couple of days.
Jumbo's nine-month sales rise 7.6 percent
Greece's largest toy seller Jumbo reported a 7.6 percent rise in sales for the nine months to March on Wednesday thanks to double-digit growth in Cyprus and Bulgaria.
The figure is higher than the company's outlook for an increase in sales of between four and six percent in the 12 months to June 2014.
Greece’s return to bond market eased by banks, Provopoulos says
Nikos Chrysoloras & Christos Ziotis
Greek lenders success last month in raising funds from foreign investors shows the government can reach its goal of returning to bond markets, said George Provopoulos, the countrys central-bank chief.
Greece prepares as much as $688 million of real estate for sale
By Sharon Smyth
Greece is preparing a property portfolio valued at as much as 500 million euros ($689 million) to offer to investors by the end of this year, according to the head of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund.
Greek yields in bond return seen reminder of snags
David Goodman & Nikos Chrysoloras
Greeces planned bond-market return, heralded by lawmakers as evidence of renewed confidence in the nation, will also highlight the progress thats needed before its rehabilitation is complete.
Time to take a hard look at debt sustainability, says OECD chief
Angel Gurria speaks to Kathimerini about the Greek economy and foresees growth of up to 20 pct of GDP over the next 5-20 years
By Eleni Varvitsiotis