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91. Parliament rejects AKEL’s 5% bank tax bill after tense showdown

A dramatic session in parliament ended with the rejection of a contentious proposal by the opposition party AKEL, which aimed to impose an extraordinary 5% solidarity tax on bank interest income for 2024 and 2025. ...

92. A helping hand or a family plan?

The government unveiled a plan a month ago aimed at boosting the purchasing power of young people to meet their housing needs. ...

93. Business loans on the rise in Cyprus, but consumer borrowing takes a hit

Cyprus experienced a rise in net new loans in October, driven primarily by businesses borrowing more, especially for amounts exceeding €1 million. ...

94. Cyprus receives major credit rating boost from Moody’s

Last Friday, Moody’s delivered a major endorsement of Cyprus’ economic progress, upgrading its credit rating by two notches, from Baa2 to A3, with a stable outlook, according to a report by Panayiotis Rougalas. ...

95. Geoeconomic tensions and Cyprus: Staying the course amid challenges ahead

Geoeconomic fragmentation, the reversal of progress towards global economic and financial integration due to political and military conflict and strategic policy decisions, is rising....

96. DBRS Morningstar: Cyprus shows strong recovery in tackling bad loans

Cyprus is starting to see some positive shifts in its financial sector, particularly when it comes to tackling non-performing loans (NPLs) – loans that borrowers have stopped paying. ...

97. BOC finalizes sale of troubled loans to boost stability and growth

In September 2024, the Bank of Cyprus reached a deal with funds linked to Cerberus Global Investments B.V. to sell a portfolio of non-performing loans—primarily business loans backed by collateral. ...

98. Germany faces uncertainty as Scholz fires finance minister

Germany’s governing coalition faces a major crisis amid economic challenges and mounting political strife, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner and announced he will seek a parliamentary vote of confidence on January 15. If Scholz fails to secure support, Germany could see elections as early as March....

99. New EU rules open Cyprus's troubled loan market to foreign investors

In a move that could reshape Cyprus's financial landscape, Parliament recently passed a European Directive that makes it easier for foreign investors to buy non-performing loans (NPLs) in the country....

100. Germany: €60 billion budget shortfall rocks Europe's largest economy

Germany’s tax revenues are projected to fall nearly €60 billion short of earlier expectations over the next five years, intensifying budget challenges for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government and straining the already fragile three-party coalition....

101. CBC urges banks to show social responsibility despite sector’s strength

The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) released its annual Financial Stability Report for 2023 on Tuesday, indicating that the financial sector is overall strong and capable of handling unexpected challenges. ...

102. Cypriot banks sending loans abroad: A growing risk?

Yesterday, I had a conversation with someone who truly understands banking—probably more knowledgeable than many who think they do....

103. ECB cuts rates again as Eurozone inflation and economy struggle

The European Central Bank (ECB) has cut interest rates for the third time, marking the first consecutive reduction in 13 years....

104. Global debt to exceed $100 trillion this year

Global public debt is nearing the size of the world economy, posing risks to living standards in developed nations, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned....

105. ECB to review AKEL’s proposed bank tax amid financial concerns

The European Central Bank (ECB) is set to evaluate a proposed "windfall tax" on banks, commonly associated with the leftist political party AKEL, in Cyprus. ...

106. Cyprus banks hike mortgage rates as new loans drop by a third in August

Banks in Cyprus raised the interest rates on home loans in August, while reducing the interest rates offered on household deposits, according to data released by the Central Bank of Cyprus on Wednesday....

107. Cyprus credit rating upgrade: A boon for investors, but what about citizens?

Cyprus has recently received good news from the credit rating agency Capital Intelligence (CI), which upgraded the country’s credit ratings, according to Kathimerinni's Dorita Yiannakou. ...

108. Tighter lending rules for businesses while household loans remain steady

Cypriot banks made it harder for businesses to get loans in the second quarter of 2024, while lending rules for households stayed the same, according to a new survey by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC)....

109. Homebuyers face mounting debts as developers' loans go unpaid

110. ECB set to cut key interest rate by 0.25% in upcoming meeting

The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to reduce its key interest rate by 0.25% on Thursday, according to most economists in Greece and the Eurozone....

111. Cyprus sees higher borrowing costs, lower deposit rates in July

Interest rates on consumer loans and mortgages in Cyprus increased in July, according to the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC). The rate for consumer credit climbed to 6.67% from 6.18% in June, while the rate for home loans rose to 4.59% from 4.52%....

112. Cypriot banks slash Eurosystem funding by €2.6 billion

Cypriot banks have almost zeroed funding from the Eurosystem via the Targeted Long-Term Refinancing Operations (TLTRO), with the latest data by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) showing repayments amounting to €2.6 billion....

113. Boxer Khelif and the social media furor over the Olympics

The Olympics have concluded, and while there is much to celebrate regarding the achievements of Cypriot athletes, there is also a lingering dissatisfaction with those misled by far-right campaigns that falsely claim to see "woke agendas" everywhere....

114. Bank of Cyprus sees 23% profit growth, raises financial targets

The Bank of Cyprus has announced a 23% increase in its profit after tax for the first half of 2024, reaching €270 million, compared to the same period in 2023. ...

115. Bank of England cuts interest rates after nearly a year of stability

The Bank of England (BoE) has cut interest rates for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping them from a 16-year high. This decision, made by a narrow 5-4 vote, reflects a split among policymakers about whether inflation is under control....

116. Apartment prices up 13.9% yearly, house price growth slows

In the first quarter of 2024, house price growth showed a slight slowdown, while apartment prices continued to rise....

117. Cyprus seeks solutions for property buyers 'in limbo' after court ruling

The government is working to help property buyers who are now in a difficult situation after the Court of Appeal ruled the 2015 Real Estate Transfer and Mortgage Law unconstitutional....

118. Are we in a real estate bubble?

The real estate market has been steadily rising since 2015, marking the ninth consecutive year of growth in the sector. However, this broad trend has not been without fluctuations, particularly influenced by the economic disruptions of the pandemic era. Monthly analyses of transaction numbers and volumes from this platform illustrate these ups and downs....

119. Surge in corporate loans despite interest rate hike

The Central Bank of Cyprus has released its latest data revealing notable shifts in financial trends for May 2024. Despite a 0.52% uptick in lending rates for non-financial corporations borrowing amounts over €1 million, new loans to these entities surged by 10% compared to the previous month. ...

120. ECB concerned over Cypriot bank profit tax proposal

In 2023, Cypriot banks reported unprecedented profits, marking a 15-year high, with projections suggesting even greater earnings in 2024....