Dr. Platon Monokroussos, Chief Market Economist, Deputy General Manager, Eurobank
HIGHLIGHTS
WORLD ECONOMIC & MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
GLOBAL MARKETS: The EU-wide stress test results came in somewhat better than expected helping major European bourses kick off the week on a firm tone and helped the EUR gain some ground on Monday.
GREECE: Speaking at the press conference that followed the conclusion of the EU Summit on Friday, Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said that official discussions continued about Greece exiting the IMF program at the end of this year with a precautionary credit line.
SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE
SERBIA: As was broadly expected, the National Assembly approved late on Sunday a revision in the 2014 budget, which envisions, among other, an increase in the unconsolidated budget deficit target to 5.7%-of-GDP (excluding below-the-line items) from 4.6% initially planned.
ROMANIA: The finance ministry holds today two primary government bond auctions for RON 500mn in 7-month and RON 800mn in 11-month T-Bills.
CESEE MARKETS: Regional stock markets were mixed and CESEE currencies broadly weakened in early European trade on Monday, as downbeat business sentiment data from Germany overshadowed an initially positive reaction to the EU-wide stress test results. Market caution ahead of the FOMC’s meeting later in the week also prevailed.
