Greece negotiations at crucial juncture
MADRID | Sean Duffy | ECB tightens the squeeze on Syriza government ahead of today´s proposals from the Greek Goverment for a loan extension.
In Europe
Greece under pressure, expected to reach deal with its creditors today
MADRID | The Corner | Markets seem optimistic about the deal between Greece and its creditors (a government spokesman said they aim to reach a compromise today), although analysts are still wondering whether there have been any advances in the negotiation. “At least the ECB decided to a slight increase in emergency funding (ELA) for Greek banks on Wednesday,” a Barclays’ Alberto Vigil said. “But we still don’t know which reforms the Greeks have agreed on.” The ECB had already raised the ELA available to Greek banks by 5 billion euros to about 65 billion seven days ago.
Spanish exports are on the rise; trade deficit, too
MADRID | The Corner | Spanish exports continue to grow, posting an annual rise of 2.5% in 2014, according to figures released on Wednesday, exceeding €240 billion for the first time. The country’s trade deficit currently stands at €24.5 billion, with imports rising by 8.3% year-on-year, leading to a 53.4% rise in the commercial deficit.
Greek crisis: The ECB to take the reins
MADRID | By Ana Fuentes | The ECB will be the main actor in the Greek crisis today. The Governing Council of the Frankfurt-based institution is meeting not to discuss monetary policy but to decide whether it maintains the emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) to Greek banks, which is crucial so the country can stay in the euro club –something that, in spite of propaganda and short sellers, both Athens and Berlin desire.
A bridge to a bailout?
MADRID | By Sean Duffy | The Greek Government is expected to apply for a bailout extension today, but it remains to be seen on whether or not Tsipras has been flexible enough to mollify the concerns of EU politicians.
Cyprus: an island in search of a saga to learn from
LONDON | By Sigrún Davídsdóttir | Why do the inhabitants of an EU country prefer to keep cash amounting to ca. 6% of GDP hidden at home? Badly burnt after the banking collapse in March 2013 Cypriots neither trust their government nor banks to keep their money safe.
What led to the breakdown between Athens and Brussels?
BRUSSELS | By Alexandre Mato | Greek authorities again rejected a Eurogroup statement regarding the extension of its bailout programme. Brussels wants a continuation of the second bailout, but the Syriza goverment wants a 4-month bridge with new rules to be applied. The gulf between both sides has emerged as bigger than initially thought.
Greece no closer to new deal
MADRID| Sean Duffy | Markets likely to be turbulent today as problems mount in intractable Greek negotiations.
Greece talks set to go to the wire
Madrid| JP Marin-Arrese| There is little chance that the Eurogroup will broker a way out of the Greek conundrum later today. As time runs out in the nail-biting tussle between Greece and its creditors, investors may start to lose their nerve. Even if they gauge that a potential Grexit would bring about limited damage for other partners, no one can exclude the possibility of turmoil erupting in the markets.
Greece: Everybody be cool
ATHENS | By Yiannis Mouzakis via MacroPolis | It’s less than three weeks since the Greek government was elected and its Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has just taken part in his first Eurogroup – an experience that some of his predecessors have described as traumatic. Yet, a surprisingly large number of people appear convinced that Greece is heading for a showdown with the eurozone and may be counting its last weeks in the single currency.