Finance

By Roula Salourou

New mothers insured with the fund for freelancers and the self-employed (OAEE) will as of this year be entitled to an allowance of 150 euros per month for four months, bringing OAEE in line with Greece?s other social security funds.

Turkey's main stock exchange, Borsa Istanbul, was ranked among the top five performers in the world in 2014, the exchange announced in a statement late on Jan. 5.

The BIST-100 Index was the best performing investment instrument based on its 2014 annual yields, with Borsa Istanbul investors gaining an average yield of 26.43 percent in 2014, said the statement.

Copper traded near the lowest in more than four years as concern that Greece will exit the euro area weighed on markets, bolstering speculation that consumption will slow.

German banks have around 23.5 billion euros ($28 billion) in credit exposure to Greece, but the systemic risk is limited as the biggest commercial banks, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, hold only a tiny fraction of that, according to figures gathered by Reuters.

BELGRADE - The privatisation of spas in Serbia has been postponed temporarily, Minister of Economy Zeljko Sertic has stated, adding that some of the spas could remain in government ownership.

The privatisation was postponed because some of them are involved in a legal dispute between the government and the state Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, he explained.

By Simon Kennedy

Mario Draghi?s July 2012 pledge to do ?whatever it takes? to keep the euro intact has kept speculators at bay for almost three years. Bond yields fell from Dublin to Athens, giving governments room to cut budgets and start revamping their economies.

Almost 5,000 Albanians are expected to benefit from the new law on social insurance contributions that entered into force on January 1.  

"All those who do not fulfil the necessary conditions for a pension can claim a social pension if they are older than 70 and have lived in Albania for the last five years," says the law.  

By Nicholas Comfort

Europe?s biggest banks have limited risk tied to Greece after selling local units and cutting holdings of the country?s bonds, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The subscription period for National Company Nuclearelectrica (SNN) shares related to the share capital increase will start on January 5 and will continue for a period of 31 calendar days, until February 4, 2015, according to an announcement posted on the Bucharest Stock Exchange website.

Listed firm Selonda Aquacultures announced on Friday the signing on Wednesday of three corporate bond programs with banks, aimed at refinancing the fish farming company’s debts.

The bonds are worth 100 million, 8 million and 2 million euros.