Documents Distributed by Greece’s Yanis Varoufakis Baffle Eurozone Officials

Officials say files differ greatly from what has been discussed in technical talks in Brussels

 The Wall Street Journal

By VIKTORIA DENDRINOU

Updated May 8, 2015 3:38 p.m. ET

30 COMMENTS

BRUSSELS—Economic plans and growth estimates distributed by Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis to some of his eurozone counterparts have baffled officials involved in the talks over its international bailout.

Officials say that the files differ greatly from what has been discussed at the technical level in Brussels in recent days and underline how Mr. Varoufakis continues to complicate progress toward a financing deal.

U.S. Urges Greece to Reject Russian Energy Project

By JAMES KANTERMAY 8, 2015

The New York Times

ATHENS — The United States, wading into the international efforts to shape Greece’s economic and geopolitical orientation, is pushing the leftist government in Athens to resist Russia’s energy overtures.

A State Department envoy in Athens urged Greece on Friday to embrace a Western-backed project that would link Europe to natural gas supplies in Azerbaijan, rather than agree to a gas pipeline project pushed by Moscow.

Greece Needs Some Post-Soviet Medicine

11 MAY 7, 2015 10:12 AM EDT

By Leonid Bershidsky

Bloomberg

The Greek government just pushed a law through parliament to rehire some of the public sector employees dismissed as part of previous creditor-dictated reforms. That's a strange move for a government already struggling to meet the existing public payroll, but to anyone familiar with post-Soviet economies, it's just a flashback.

Greece deal: Seriously, what's holding it up?

Holly Ellyatt   | @HollyEllyatt

5 Hours Ago

CNBC

Since coming to power at the end of January, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Greece's leftwing government had spent all of its time in talks with its international lenders.

Negotiations over the country's bailout program, reform measures and financial needs have seemingly dragged on and Greece has rarely been out of the headlines since Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and fiery Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis took the helm in January's election and started trying to steer Greece away from economic disaster.

Greece Will Make Next Debt Payment, Varoufakis Says

By JAMES KANTERMAY 7, 2015

The New York Times

BRUSSELS — Greece’s finance minister said on Thursday that the country would make its next major loan repayment to the International Monetary Fund on time, but there were few signs of an immediate breakthrough in a long-running stalemate between the government in Athens and its international creditors.

The sorry saga of Syriza

In its first hundred days Greece’s government has failed dismally. A crunch looms

May 9th 2015 | From the print edition

Charlemagne

The Economist

IN RECENT months the walls of the B. & M. Theocharakis Foundation in Athens have been lined with mementoes of European support for Greece’s freedom. “Philhellenism”, an exhibition, tells the story of the material and moral backing that Romantics like the English poet Byron gave Greece during its independence fight against the Ottomans. The contemporary resonances are obvious. Showing some children around, Dimitra Varkarakis, who with her husband, Michael, owns the works on display, pointed to a German painting. One girl stopped short. “Aren’t we in a fight with Germany?” she asked. “No,” replied Mrs Varkarakis. “We are all friends.” After recounting this tale she casts Charlemagne an earnest look. “Europeans,” she says, “must love each other.”

Greece Faces Pending Deadline as ECB Eyes Haircut Option

by Karl Stagno Navarra,

Alessandro Speciale Greece needs to show it’s serious about reaching an agreement with international creditors next week or risk tighter liquidity rules being imposed on its banks.

European Central Bank officials want progress at a meeting of euro-region finance ministers on May 11 or they will consider tightening Greek banks’ access to emergency liquidity they need to stay afloat, said two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity as the talks are private. One policy maker said they’re prepared to raise haircuts -- the discounts imposed on collateral pledged by Greek banks in return for funding -- to levels seen last year. An ECB spokesman declined to comment.

The move reflects growing frustration among top decision makers with the game of brinkmanship shown by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s government since it came to power 101 days ago. As talks drag on, Greek bank deposits are shriveling and ECB liquidity has become the country’s chief lifeline.

Greece’s scariest deficit has nothing to do with money

Published: May 7, 2015 2:00 a.m. ET

Market Watch

By ELLIE ISMAILIDOU

MARKETS REPORTER

Ancient Greece was once a magnet for the world’s intellectual elite. Scholarly work out of Athens contributed to everything from logic and philosophy to the politics that formed the basis of modern civilization.

But as the Hellenic Republic struggles to strike an agreement to repay more than €300 billion it owes international creditors, it’s also facing the depletion of its most important asset: human capital.

Greek Banks Are Having Trouble Trading Foreign Currencies

by Vassilis Karamanis

8:43 PM EEST

May 6, 2015

Greek banks are increasingly being hampered from trading currencies, one of most liquid markets, as international dealers cut back credit lines and costs soar, according to people with knowledge of the trades.

International securities firms are curtailing trading with Greece’s major lenders that may expose them to the risk of a default by the nation and the possible use of capital controls to stem outflows from banks, the people said, asking not to be named because they are not authorized to speak publicly.

Those threats are adding to concern that the euro would decline in the event of a default or a Greek exit from the currency region, leaving counterparties exposed to multiple risks, said the people.

E.C.B. Doubts Add to Uncertainties on Greek Debt Lifeline

By JACK EWING and LIZ ALDERMANMAY 6, 2015

The New York Times

FRANKFURT — As Greece mounts an 11th-hour diplomatic offensive across Europe to secure financial aid that it desperately needs to avoid a default, patience with Athens is wearing thin at the European Central Bank.

That could pose big problems for Greece, since the central bank is the country’s biggest creditor and a necessary source of financial support for struggling Greek commercial banks.

ECB Mulls Tighter Greece Rules After 100 Days of Tspiras

Bloomberg

by Karl Stagno NavarraAlessandro Speciale

11:14 AM EEST

May 6, 2015

European Central Bank officials will debate tighter rules for the liquidity that Greek lenders rely on for survival, two people familiar with the matter said, a move that underscores the fragility of the country’s financial system.

The Governing Council will discuss Wednesday whether to raise discounts on the collateral Greek banks pledge in exchange for emergency funding, said the people, who are familiar with the agenda and asked not to be identified. Governors will also review how much more Emergency Liquidity Assistance to offer Greek banks.

Greece Sparks Meltdown in Euro-Area Bonds as Italy, Spain Tumble

Bloomberg

by Anchalee WorrachateEshe Nelson

12:00 PM EEST

May 5, 2015

A slump in euro-area government bonds gathered force on concern Greece’s talks with creditors will fail to clinch a deal in time to prevent a default.

As Greek bonds tumbled, the repercussions spread across the region, with Spain’s 10-year yield rising the most since June 2013 to the highest this year. German bunds, the region’s benchmark sovereign securities, were swept up in the selloff with Treasuries after an unexpected jump in growth for U.S. service industries.

IMF Speaks of More Potential Financing for Greece

Less success in meeting original bailout terms would mean more new money needed

The Wall Street Journal

By IAN TALLEY

May 5, 2015 2:46 p.m. ET

The International Monetary Fund said Tuesday IMF officials didn’t push for large-scale debt relief in recent negotiations for emergency financing for Greece, but rather underscored that more financing would be needed if Athens failed to live up to its original bailout conditions.

“IMF European Department Director Poul Thomsen pointed to the trade-off that needs to be made in reaching agreement in the current discussions,” the IMF said in an emailed statement, referring to the negotiations held in Riga, Latvia, late last month.

Greece blows hot and cold in race to avert cash crunch

Tue May 5, 2015 3:33pm EDT Related: GREECE, IMF

ATHENS/BRUSSELS | BY LEFTERIS PAPADIMAS AND JAN STRUPCZEWSKI

(Reuters) - Greece blew hot and cold with its euro zone partners on Tuesday as it struggled to avert a potentially catastrophic funding crunch this month, when it must make a big debt repayment to the IMF as cash reserves dry up.

Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said after talks in Paris and Brussels that he expected euro zone finance ministers to acknowledge next Monday progress towards a cash-for-reform deal, opening the way to easing Athens' liquidity crisis.

Greece Says Compromise Not Possible Under Current Conditions

 Bloomberg

by Marcus BensassonEleni Chrepa

5:25 PM EEST

May 5, 2015

Greece blamed international creditors for the failure to end the impasse over its fiscal crisis, clouding the outlook for talks that some officials had said were making progress.

No deal will be possible until the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund agree to a common set of demands, a government official said on condition of anonymity. Taken together, there are too many red lines and creditors need to better coordinate their message, the official said.

IMF spokeswoman Angela Gaviria said in an e-mail that she had no immediate comment. A European Commission spokesman wasn’t immediately available for comment.

In Greece Syriza Is Still, After Three Months, Insisting On The Same Red Lines

MAY 4, 2015 @ 1:12 PM

By Tim Worstall

CONTRIBUTOR

Forbes

We were all rather hoping that the intensive negotiations over the weekend would produce something of a breakthrough in the Greek debt deadlock. But if today’s reports are to be believed that’s not quite what has happened. Syriza, negotiating for Greece, is still insisting upon the same red lines that must not be crossed they were insisting upon three months ago. And those are the very red lines that the Eurogroup, negotiating on behalf of the creditors, insists must be crossed. Specifically, they are insisting that the welfare state must be made more generous, something entirely unacceptable to the creditor side.

Greece Hurtles Toward IMF Deadline as EU Demands Concessions

by Anabela ReisFrancine Lacqua

1:55 PM EEST

May 5, 2015

Bloomberg

Euro-area finance chiefs urged Greece to bow to their terms for releasing aid within days to avert a cash crunch.

With Greek officials fanning out across the continent to plead their case, Portuguese Finance Minister Maria Luis Albuquerque warned Tuesday that the currency bloc won’t make contingency plans to prepare for a possible breakdown in talks and encouraged Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to take the offer on the table.

As the Euro Slides, a Coin Meets Its Waterloo

By DANNY HAKIMMAY 4, 2015

New York Times

BRUSSELS — Here at the Belgian Royal Mint, machines called giraffes spit out as many as 850 euros a minute.

At times during the summer of 2008, that many shiny coins would have been worth $1,360. Now it is just under $950, a symptom of Europe’s inability to navigate through crisis. Even as the region’s outlook improves ever so slightly, the currency just cannot shake the specter of moribund growth and the troubles of Greece.

But at the mint, there were more immediate concerns during a recent visit. Like the Battle of Waterloo.

Greece's undeclared domestic default takes hold

By Giorgos Christides

Thessaloniki, Greece

4 May 2015

BBC

When will Greece run out of money? The question has been vexing European capitals and the markets for months, as the stand-off between the new government in Athens and its eurozone creditors remains unresolved.

So far, Greece has managed to both service its external debt and pay for wages and pensions.

But the worst kept secret in the country is that for thousands of people, businesses and institutions relying on government pay cheques, in every practical sense, Greece is already out of money.

Greece has not received any loans from the eurozone or the IMF since August 2014.

There is €7.2bn (£5.3bn;$8bn) left in the country's bailout program, but creditors refuse to release the money before their demands for further reforms, spending cuts and tax increases are satisfied by Athens.

The Greek government, led since January by the leftist Syriza party of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, is refusing to "violate its anti-austerity mandate".

Greece aims for deal with lenders, IMF hard on reforms: minister

Mon May 4, 2015 4:52am EDT Related: GREECE, IMF

Greece aims for deal with lenders, IMF hard on reforms: minister

ATHENS

(Reuters) - Greece intends to meet debt payments this month and reach a deal with its international lenders to unlock remaining bailout aid, but the International Monetary Fund insists on tough labor reforms, the country's labor minister said on Monday.

Struggling amid a cash crunch, Athens faces debt repayments to the IMF totaling nearly 1 billion euros this month. It has been borrowing from municipalities and government entities to meet obligations.