COGNICURRENT

The Director-General of the Bank of Greece indicated that there are no longer reasons to intervene in interest rates, with mortgage loans projected to reach 3 billion euros by 2026 despite concerns about Middle Eastern developments.

Optima Bank is projected to achieve a profit of 170 million euros by 2025, representing a significant increase over the previous year.

The European Central Bank's chief economist warns that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could lead to significant inflation and a sharp downturn in the Eurozone's production.

The stock of the Cyprus Bank has fallen to its lowest level since January 23, influenced by developments in the Middle East, particularly the emergence of Iranian drones in a British base.

The Bank of Greece announced a dividend of €0.67 per share and reported a significant increase in net revenues to €880.8 million for the year 2025.

The article discusses the impact of the Treaty of Lausanne on approximately 1.5 million Greek Orthodox refugees, particularly focusing on the unique identity and integration challenges faced by the Pontic Greeks.

The Athens Stock Exchange is deeply affected by the recent escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, leading to significant declines in bank stocks and a rise in oil companies like Motor Oil and ELPE.

Trastor Property Investments is planning a capital increase of up to 150 million euros, which will be proposed at the annual general meeting on March 20, 2026.

The National Bank of Greece's decision not to distribute a supplementary cash dividend for the fiscal year 2025 has not gone unnoticed by the stock market.

The Bank of Greece is set to distribute dividends this year, with key dates outlined in its financial calendar for 2026.

Italian bank UniCredit has withdrawn its appeal to the European Court of Justice against the European Central Bank's directive to exit Russia, following pressure and sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine.

The Swiss financial regulatory authority announced the liquidation of a bank accused by the U.S. Treasury of facilitating transactions with illegal actors linked to Russia and Iran.

A new financing agreement has been signed between the Greek Development Bank and TMEDE to extend the operation of the Guarantee Fund until December 31, 2026.

The National Bank of Greece announced after-tax profits of €1.3 billion for 2025, driven by significant credit expansion and rising revenues from financial operations.

Investor interest in the Athens Stock Exchange is currently focused on corporate earnings and MSCI index rebalancing following a recovery of the General Index above 2,300 points.

Alpha Bank reported a 44% increase in its net profits for 2025, totaling 943.3 million euros, along with a significant dividend distribution to its shareholders.

The yen rebounded after the Bank of Japan Governor indicated that any interest rate hikes would depend on economic data, with market participants awaiting new catalysts.

A video verified by the BBC shows the moments leading up to the death of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy, Jad Jandal, who was shot by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank.

Private sector deposits in Greece decreased by 5.18 billion euros in January 2026, reflecting a concerning trend in the banking sector as more funds are withdrawn compared to previous months.

Banks in Greece are anticipated to report significant profits amidst uncertainty following a Supreme Court decision that impacts interest calculations on Law Katseli loans.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated that artificial intelligence has not yet led to massive layoffs in the Eurozone, while also emphasizing the importance of completing projects like the digital euro during her term.

Piraeus Bank reported a significant profit of 1.070 billion euros for 2025, reflecting strong customer loan growth and financial performance.

Piraeus Bank announced a strong profit forecast of €1.07 billion for 2025, signaling a 16% return on tangible equity.

The yen has fallen to a two-week low against the dollar following the appointment of two academics to Japan's central bank board, raising concerns about future interest rate hikes amidst supportive monetary and fiscal policies advocated by Prime Minister Sanae Takeichi.

The Edmond de Rothschild bank in Geneva announced unspecified measures to protect clients and employees after the release of documents linked to the Epstein case, which implicated the bank's CEO, Ariane de Rothschild.

HSBC Malta announces pre-tax profits of €109 million for 2025, marking the third consecutive year of profits over €100 million, amid an acquisition by CrediaBank and a resilient Maltese economy.

The European Central Bank has approved the appointment of Boris Vucic as its new Vice-President for an eight-year term starting in June.

The Athens Stock Exchange experienced a significant rebound, driven by a surge in Metlen shares and positive expectations for bank earnings.

The Japanese yen has weakened due to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's reservations about further interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan.

The stock of the National Bank has recorded eleven negative closings in the last thirteen sessions, dropping below 14 euros for the first time since January 7.

Travel revenues in Greece saw a remarkable 33% increase in December 2025, reaching €623 million compared to the same month in 2024.

Alpha Bank's stock has lost most of its gains this year, with eight negative closes in the last ten sessions, impacted by halted takeover speculation from UniCredit.

Christine Lagarde faces backlash for her annual salary of 140,000 euros from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), contradicting ECB rules against simultaneous payments from multiple sources.

The Athens Stock Exchange faced another week of decline, primarily impacted by profit-taking in bank stocks and a lack of new catalysts in the market.

Christine Lagarde has reaffirmed her commitment to complete her term as President of the European Central Bank, despite speculation about an early resignation.

Christine Lagarde expresses her intention to finish her term as President of the European Central Bank, countering speculation about an early resignation.

CrediaBank plans to hold an extraordinary general meeting to discuss a capital increase of up to 300 million euros, aiming to strengthen its position as a significant banking entity in Greece.

The introduction of the digital euro could cost European banks between 4 and 6 billion euros over four years, according to a European Central Bank official.

In Greece, 80% of citizens believe there is a crisis of institutions, driven by a sense that elites are manipulating these structures for their own benefit.

Experts from the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) warn that Slovakia's public finance situation is reminiscent of Greece before its crisis, prompting concerns about future fiscal stability.

The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) in Greece has introduced a new system that simplifies the process of lifting bank secrecy, expanding the scope of individuals subject to scrutiny for money laundering.

Optima Bank's stock is nearing its recent record of €9.79, continuing a strong performance amid denials of partnership rumors.

The French Ministry of Finance has reported a significant cyber security incident where a hacker gained unauthorized access to a national database containing sensitive information of approximately 1.2 million bank accounts.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that the next government will work to encourage Palestinian migration from the West Bank amid rising international condemnation of Israel's actions in the area.

The Bank of Cyprus announced a net profit of 481 million euros for the entire year of 2025, with significant increases in new lending and dividend distribution to shareholders.

Christine Lagarde, the president of the European Central Bank, is expected to resign before the French presidential elections scheduled for April 2027, according to reports from the Financial Times and Bloomberg.

The Athens Stock Exchange shows a robust reaction from buyers who are seizing recent corrections to re-enter the market.

The European Central Bank clarified that Christine Lagarde has not decided when she will step down as president, following a Financial Times report suggesting her potential departure ahead of the French presidential elections in 2027.

Christine Lagarde has denied any decisions regarding her potential early departure from the European Central Bank, aiming to quell speculations following a report from the Financial Times.

The European Investment Bank is investing €30 million in the Municipality of Thessaloniki for sustainable urban development and climate resilience projects as part of a new funding agreement.