Economic growth

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.

Convergence in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the area of ​​income is threatened by a slowdown if these members do not restructure their economies faster and do not begin to bring about the related productivity gains. That's what Moody's warned, reports money.bg

The MSCI stock index rebalancing was completed on Friday, while investors repositioned themselves accordingly, leading to a second day of notable gains at Athinon Avenue, as many foreign traders closed their books for the year at the end of a month that saw the main index slide 1.55 percent.

The euphoria over the Eurobank-Grivalia merger lasted just a few hours at the Greek bourse on Monday, as concerns over next week's rebalancing of the MSCI index, which may trigger a further outflow of investors, curtailed early gains and led the banks index into negative territory.

While turnover remained subdued on the Greek stock market on Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday in the US on Thursday, banks' 4 percent rise managed to take the benchmark back above the 600-point mark.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 602.60 points, adding 0.65 percent to Thursday's 598.73 points. On a weekly basis it conceded 3.69 percent.