Investment

BELGRADE - The people of Switzerland and its entrepreneurs raised more than CHF 4 million for flood relief efforts in Serbia, Swiss Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Daniel Ruch said on Friday.

The United States could impose a USD 10 B penalty on French bank BNP Paribas for violating sanctions against Iran, Cuba, and Sudan.

If this is to happen, it will be the highest ever penalty imposed on a bank, by a margin of over USD 8 B, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum's General Assembly, held on May 28 at Grand Hotel Sofia, saw elections for three Board members and financial controller.

By Julien Toyer & Lisa Jucca

When Angel Gomez and Maria Luisa Fernandez retired a decade ago, they imagined spending their pensions largely on restaurant meals, holidays and toys for the grandkids. Today, their retirement money helps to support five families.

Greek lender Attica Bank has hired advisers to look for an investor to take part in a planned equity offering, as it becomes the fifth of the country's banks to tap international markets to plug a capital hole, it said on Tuesday.

The Greek Euroboank, which owns 100% of Bulgaria's Postbank, has new majority owners, said the bank in a press release. 

By Foo Yun Chee

European Union antitrust regulators charged Europe's biggest bank HSBC, US peer JPMorgan and France's Credit Agricole on Tuesday with rigging financial benchmarks linked to the euro, exposing them to potential fines.

The European Commission also said it would charge broker ICAP soon for suspected manipulation of the yen Libor financial benchmark.

 Investors may be better off taking the medium-to-long term view on the economy regardless of politics

By Dimitris Kontogiannis

The Bulgarian National Railways (BDZ) are facing nether bankruptcy nor mass layoffs, Hristiyan Krastev, the state-owned company's chief executive, said on Monday.

Krastev told the public broadcaster BNT that BDZ is still committed to reducing its huge debt, which in his words went BGN 100 M (EUR 50 M) down in 2013.

 More public and private sector workers are considering an early exit over fears of regulatory changes

By Christina Kopsini