Economy of Europe

The European Central Bank (ECB) appointed Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras chairman of the European bank's Audit Committee.

Stournaras had been elected member of the ECB's Audit Committee in September 2018.

In his new capacity he replaces Ewald Nowotny, former governor of Oesterreichische Nationalbank.

Bulgaria is likely to join the ERM II currency mechanism a few months later than the announced deadline of the end of April. This was what European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said in an interview with the BNR.

Stocks in the Greek bourse were once again swayed by banks that dragged the market lower on Tuesday, accelerating the benchmark's decline toward the 900-point mark.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 911.82 points, shedding 0.86 percent from Monday's 919.77 points. The large-cap FTSE 25 index contracted 0.95 percent to 2,291.80 points.

Bulgaria signaled it may delay its bid to adopt the euro amid fears the preparatory steps could jeopardize a long-standing fixed exchange rate to the common currency, Bloomberg reported.

Monday's Eurogroup did not have Greece on its agenda, but a European Commission document leaked on the same day shows the decision to extend the enhanced surveillance of the Greek economy for another six months, as of February 21.

After a particularly quiet session on the Greek bourse, with the lowest turnover of the last four-and-a-half months, the benchmark at Athinon Avenue ended its four-day rising streak on Monday with a slight decline, mainly due to the bank losses.

European Investment Bank (EIB) president Werner Hoyer announced ambitious plans for major investments in Greece in 2020 during a visit to Athens for talks with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Finance Minister Christos Staikouras and other government officials today.

Partnership with National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank

The benchmark at Athinon Avenue proved unable to hold on to most of the gains it had recorded during the day on Wednesday, in line with the majority of other eurozone bourses. It presented a mixed picture at the end of the session, with rising stocks narrowly edging out the losers on a day when the bond market dominated investor interest.

The national organizations representing workers and employees, and employers in Bulgaria express full support for the National Assembly's decision - that the country should leave the exchange rate mechanism should a Lev-Euro exchange rate be proposed that is different from the exchange rate now in place.

For a second day in a row the Greek bourse benchmark continued its recovery without the support of bank stocks on Wednesday, although mid-session gains had shrunk by the end of what was a fairly slow day.