Interest

National Bank, Greece's second-largest lender by market value, on Tuesday reported higher net earnings in the first nine months of 2023 compared with the same period a year ago as net interest income rose.

NBG, 40% owned by the country's HFSF bank rescue fund, said net earnings reached 791 million euros from €680 million in the first nine months of 2022.

Social security agency EFKA is allowing non-salaried professionals and businesses affected by wildfires not to pay their social security contributions for six months and no compound interest will be charged once they resume payments. 

The interest rate spread between new deposits and loans increased to 5.60 percentage points in April, as the weighted average interest rate on new deposits remained almost unchanged at 0.25%, while the corresponding rate on new loans increased to 5.85%, the Bank of Greece said on Tuesday.

The interest rate spread in Greece between new deposits and loans increased to 5.50 percentage points in March as the weighted average interest rate on new deposits remained almost unchanged at 0.23%, while the corresponding rate on new loans increased to 5.73%, the Bank of Greece said on Friday.

BNB increased the main interest rate in February to 1.82. In January it was 1.42%.

The central bank started increasing the main interest rate since October last year, when it went from 0 percent to 0.49 percent.

The government's Treasury-supported loan package scheme for tradesmen and craftsmen has taken effect following a presidential decree, Treasury and Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati has announced.

In 11 years, less than half of the amount of the guaranteed student loans have been reimbursed to the state. Students refrain from borrowing money because of the high interest rates, although a total of EUR 20 million was earmarked for student loans in 2021. In 11 years, only 1,274 students have applied for a student loan.

Turkey will promote interest-free finance systems and loan methods for diversifying interest-free products and services in the coming period.

Greek bond yields have started to rival Italy's, with analysts estimating that the spread between them will soon drop to zero. This comes as Greece confirmed the return of market confidence on Wednesday, selling debt without interest.

The avalanche of negative news about Romania's international gold stash in London has seriously harmed the country, has dented the credibility of both Romania and the National Bank, and keeping the entire gold reserve in the country would not bring any benefit, governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR) Mugur Isarescu said on Friday.