BANKS

greek banks

How Greek banks were left on the brink

ATHENS | June 22, 2015 | By Manos Giakoumis via MacroPolis | Almost a year ago, Greek banks successfully raised 8.3 billion euros in capital increases, which were over 1.5 times subscribed amid strong interest – primarily from international institutional investors. 



Greek PM Alexis Tsipras

Greek talks in chaos

MADRID | June 1, 2015 | By JP Marín ArreseWhen Tsipras took over matters from Varoufakis a couple of weeks ago, observers were mildly optimistic about the prospect of Greece reaching a fair deal with its creditors. But yesterday’s remarks by the Hellenic PM on the ‘absurd’ demands filed by his counterparts has dealt a heavy blow to such hopes. The chances of broking an agreement are far away and there are  increasing doubts over the ability to reach an understanding before it is too late. 


greek banks

How Greek banks can keep their balance on the collateral tightrope

ATHENS | May 18, 2014 | By Manos Giakoumis via MacroPolis | The ongoing and troubled negotiations between Greece and its lenders, as well as the weekly meetings of the European Central Bank’s governing council mean that there is growing concern about the extent to which Greek banks will continue to be able to draw emergency liquidity to cover the outflow of deposits.


Grecia BanderasTC

Where has the money withdrawn from Greek banks gone?

ATHENS | May 16, 2015 | By Manos Giakoumis via MacroPolis | Since December, the Greek banking system has been suffering from extended deposit outflows, which reached 26.8 billion euros at the end of March. Almost 90 percent of these withdrawals stemmed from time deposits, while only around 600 million euros was taken from savings accounts.



Greek market access in two charts

“Greek market access is in doubt given rising country risk premium”

The Corner | April 29, 2015 | Amid speculations about a Greek deal (see examples of the bipolar opinion landscape here and here), market makers seemed more apeased yesterday but still have their doubts about the post June situation. “The yield on 3-year Greek debt remains very elevated and suggests that ‘market access’ is unlikely to be afforded to Greece at acceptable interest rates any time soon,” experts at BNP commented.


Bankia's president J.I. Goirigolzarri

Bankia’s dividend: Timely or premature?

MADRID | April 24, 2015 | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | Bankia held its general meeting in Valencia (headquarters of one of the integrated in the brand new boxes) this week to approve its 2014 results –the year of the firm’s regeneration– and design its future roadmap. One of its non-explicit goals is to accelerate the partial and progressive privatization of the entity before November general elections in Spain.


Greek Parthenon

Greek debt: markets waiting for a watered-down agreement

The Corner | April 21, 2015 | Markets remain divided about the Greek debt negociations –or rather the lack of them. Time is running out and Athens’ legislative act asking public sector entities to transfer idle cash reserves to Greece’s central bank, in order to deal with a cash squeeze, proves it. That plan could raise about 2 billion euros ($2.15 billion), according to sources quoted by Bloomberg.