Economic growth

German Consul Hans E. Tischler said on Thursday that the German investors in Transylvania intend to maintain their businesses because they feel good here. Hans E. Tischler said he visits very often German companies in all of Transylvania and finds that German companies still feel good here and want to stay.

The 9.25 percent ascent of the banks index dominated Thursday's bourse session at Athinon Avenue, taking the main index well above the 700-point level. However, traders were more reserved as far as other blue chips were concerned.

* Challenges but also benefits ahead, says latest EBRD Transition Report * Serbia should advance public sector reforms, privatisation and SOE restructuring, report says * Better access to finance for SMEs and transparent rules are key for progress

In previous Notes for Discussion, we presented an aspirational annual target for growth in labor productivity. Greece should aim to improve annual growth in labor productivity to 1.5 percent a year, from an average of 0.4 percent a year over the last two decades.

A Fitch Ratings statement, saying that the plans proposed in Athens for the reduction of bad loans in Greece could offer genuine hope for the credit sector's redemption, boosted local bank stocks on Tuesday, which had a positive knock-on effect on the rest of the market too.

In this fourth Note on the quarterly national accounts, we mine for more data to see how the economy is evolving, and observe whether this provides information that we need to be aware of when thinking about government policy. Specifically, we will be trying to find out what aggregate demand components are providing the biggest push to growth in real GDP.

The World Bank is warning of increasing risks, or what it calls "darkening skies", for the world economy, reported BBC. 

In its annual assessment of global prospects the Bank predicts continued, though somewhat slower, growth this year and next.

The Bank's forecast for the global economy is expansion this year of 2.9% and 2.8% in 2020.

Bulgaria has placed 46th in the Forbes ranking of the best countries for doing business in 2018, quoted by the Bulgarian National Radio. 

The media points out that in recent years, strong domestic demand coupled with low international energy prices has contributed to the economic growth of Bulgaria with nearly 4% and to reducing inflation.

The gross domestic product (GDP) estimated for 2017 was 856.726 billion lei current prices, rising in real terms by 7pct compared to 2016, according to the semi-final data published on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

Compared with the provisional version, in the semi-final version, the nominal gross domestic product estimated for 2017 decreased by 0.2pct.

The London based, The Legatum Institute, published the 12th Legatum Prosperity Index at the end of November. The index is a leading indicator of economic and social wellbeing in the 149 nations covered. "This is a tool for leaders around the world to help set their agendas for growth and development.