Bank of Greece

By Stathis Kousounis

Bank of Greece figures confirmed on Tuesday that local tourism?s record year 2014 brought 22 million visitors and 13.44 billion euros in travel receipts.

This represents a 23 percent increase in tourists and a 10.6 percent rise in revenues from 2013.

By Namitha Jagadeesh & Roxana Zega

European stocks extended a seven-year high as Greece reached a bailout deal and the Federal Reserve pledged patience on raising interest rates. Greek shares surged.

By Roxana Zega

Greek equities rallied as euro-area finance ministers approved the nation?s package of new economic measures, paving the way for an extension of its bailout plan.

The ASE Index rose 8.5 percent to 927.13 at 4:30 p.m. in Athens, with a gauge of banks rallying as much as 16 percent. The ASE is set to close at its highest level since Dec. 8.

Greece's central bank chief said Thursday the country?s banks will not face a liquidity shortage, despite fears of a brewing clash with the EU that could push the country out of the eurozone.

Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis and Bank of Greece (BoG) Gov. Yannis Stournaras on Thursday reacted to Germany’s rejection of a Greek request for a loan agreement extension.

The Deputy PM said that “in case Europeans refuse to aid us, they should be prepared to bear the brunt of their decision”.

The European Central Bank has reportedly accepted a demand by the Bank of Greece to extend the period of emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) but has only added 3.3 billion euros to the limit of money Greek banks can draw from the costly mechanism.

By Yiannis Papadoyiannis

Wednesday?s meeting of the European Central Bank?s board is not expected to bring any nasty surprises for Greece in regard to the expected renewal of liquidity to Greek lenders via the Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) mechanism of the Bank of Greece.

Greek lenders are urging central bank Governor Yannis Stournaras to seek additional emergency cash as deposit outflows accelerate, according to three people familiar with the situation.

By Elisa Martinuzzi & Stefania Spezzati

Greek banks fell in Athens trading after talks among euro-area finance ministers on extending the nation?s bailout ended abruptly, raising concern lenders may need to introduce controls to avert capital flight.

Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras said on Friday that uncertainty posed the biggest risk to derailing the Greek economy and to the sacrifices made by the Greek people in previous years being lost, stressing the need for fiscal balance and competitiveness to be restored.