Εβδομαδιαία Επισκόπηση 23 - 29 Αυγούστου 2016

Banking sector bottom line reaches a high in Q2:16, mainly due to higher gains from non-core activities

NBR remains on hold, despite the subdued inflation outlook

Asset Quality Review and stress tests confirm the strength of the banking system

Profitability of the banking system improves sharply in Q2:16

Fitch downgrades FYROM’s long-term sovereign debt rating by one notch to BB (two notches below investment grade) with a negative outlook

Fiscal performance is set to deteriorate significantly during the remainder of the year, pushing the FY:16 budget deficit to a 2-year high of 4.2% of GDP

Significant fiscal consolidation in 7M:16 -- 1.3% of GDP on a 12- month rolling basis -- due to a strong tax revenue performance as well as expenditure restraint

Cyprus successfully taps international markets

Tourist arrivals exceed the 1.7mn mark in 7M:16, mainly due to heightening security concerns in neighbouring competitors

Egypt signs a preliminary agreement for a USD 12bn IMF lending programme