How Greek default will affect markets June 15, 2015 On June 30, Greece must pay €1.6bn to the IMF or default and face expulsion from the Eurozone. With talks breaking down over the weekend, which markets could suffer most in the event of a Greek default? EQUITIES Equity markets on the periphery are at risk of destabilisation if capital is repatriated from exposed [...]
Greek crisis: Tsipras says Greece is “waiting for realism” as European stocks get the jitters after failed eleventh-hour talks June 15, 2015 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said today that the country will "patiently wait for [its lenders to] adhere to realism". Read more: Germany warns of Grexit with EU patience "running out" In an irate statement issued following last night's crunch talks, which collapsed after just 45 minutes, Tsipras said "one can only suspect political motives behind [...]
With no deal on the cards, would the Eurozone be able to contain contagion from Greek exit? June 14, 2015 Dr Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, says Yes. The Eurozone won’t let the turmoil of 2011-2012 happen again. It has spent the last three years strengthening its defences against contagion risks. Systemic contagion through sovereign bond markets is now highly unlikely. Investors know that the European Central Bank is the reliable buyer of last [...]
Germany warns of Grexit with EU patience “running out” June 14, 2015 Germany's economy minister and vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has warned Greece that its exit from the euro is becoming increasingly likely. In a Bild magazine column, Gabriel argued that EU countries were losing patience with slow-moving talks between Greece and its creditors. Gabriel wrote: Everywhere in Europe, the sentiment is growing that enough is enough. The [...]
EU officials hold first talks on Greek default June 13, 2015 Senior Eurozone officials have met to discuss the possibility of a Greek default for the first time, according to media reports. Sources told Reuters that they had talked about a number of scenarios in Bratislava, Slovakia yesterday, including a potential default on the €1.6bn (£1.2bn) payment the cash-strapped country must make to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at [...]
Euro sinks and Greek stocks plummet after IMF walkout June 12, 2015 Stocks in Athens were down almost four per cent in mid-morning trading, after negotiators from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) walked out of talks last night. Meanwhile, the euro fell more than half a cent against the dollar, to less than $1.12. Editor's letter: I'm finally convinced – a Grexit could really happen Markets across [...]
IMF pessimism on Greece cools hot day for markets June 11, 2015 A strong day for European markets came to an abrupt end yesterday as one of Greece’s creditors said there had been “no progress” in recent negotiations with the country. Greece is currently trying to secure a cash-for-reforms bailout deal to stave off bankruptcy. “We are well away from an agreement,” a spokesman for the International [...]
I’m finally convinced – a Grexit really could happen June 11, 2015 The prospect of Greece leaving the Eurozone never really seemed to be on the cards, even during the darkest days of 2011 and 2012. There were two reasons for this: firstly, the ease with which the country and its creditors could kick the can down the road. This was helped by the relatively small size [...]
Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis: “We will not accept a one per cent primary budget surplus” June 11, 2015 Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has told MPs that the country will not accept a primary budget surplus target of more than one per cent. Read more: S&P lowers Greece's credit rating further The country had originally proposed a target of 0.6 per cent for 2015 – significantly below the 1.5 per cent mooted by [...]
Standard & Poor’s lowers Greece’s credit rating to CCC, warns it could be downgraded further June 11, 2015 Well, this is a surprise. Standard & Poor's has lowered Greece's credit rating one notch to CCC and said it could be lowered again within the next year as the country's financial situation worsens. Although normally S&P would be restricted from altering its rating of Greece outside a “pre-established calendar”, the agency said [...]