If the European Central Bank really wants to kick-start the euro zone economy, it should ensure the bloc's banks are up to the task of lending.
Tags: Greece
Fed considers time to end free money pledge
The U.S. Federal Reserve would give the clearest signal next week that its easy money stance is ending if, as some expect, it drops its two-year long pledge to keep interest rates close to zero for a "considerable time".
S&P 500 erases early losses to end flat; energy, tech up
The S&P 500 ended nearly flat on Tuesday as concerns about global weakness and political turmoil were offset by gains in technology and energy shares.
Euro zone mulls extending Greek bailout by six months, Athens refuses
Euro zone ministers are considering extending Greece's bailout by six months to mid-2015, according to a document obtained by Reuters, but Athens said it was only willing to consider an extension of a few weeks to the unpopular program.
EU provisionally clears French, Italian budgets after tweaks
The European Commission provisionally accepted the budgets of France and Italy, saying on Tuesday that no euro zone states had submitted deficit plans for next year that seriously breached EU rules for fiscal stability.
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Greece will aim to achieve a primary budget surplus of 2.9 percent of output next year, just shy of the 3 percent target set out under its bailout deal, its deputy finance minister said in an interview published Saturday.
Facing rumors that he could face pressure to quit, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi hit back on Sunday against criticism from business leaders and dared his opponents to challenge him in parliament.
Greece's international creditors have no appetite for considering a haircut as a way to lighten its debt load, the head of the European Stability Mechanism, the euro zone's bailout fund organization, told Greek Sunday newspaper Realnews.
Greece expects its economy to grow in the third quarter, its first quarterly expansion since the start in 2008 of a crippling recession that has wiped out nearly a quarter of GDP, its finance minister said on Saturday.
Kifisia, Greece-based petroleum and petrochemical gas products transporter StealthGas Inc raised $47 million through the sale of 4.47 million common shares at $10.50 apiece for its vessels purchases and other corporate purposes.
Greek containers and oil products firm Global Ports Investments has closed the acquisition of Russian firm NCC Group to become Eastern Europe's biggest container terminal operator.
Switzerland's Dufry is reportedly purchasing the remaining 49% stake in Greek travel retailer Hellenic Duty Free for €328 million. Dufry bought a controlling stake in HDF for €200.5 million last year.
Paul Kazarian, founder of Japonica Partners & Co and known for his purchase of Greek bonds, told Bloomberg in an interview that Greece needs to adopt corporate accounting practices if it is to return to the debt markets.
US fund York Capital Management invested EUR100 million in GEK Terna, one of Greece's top construction groups.
