Bulgaria has achieved a historic milestone as Scope Ratings upgraded the nation’s long-term credit rating from ‘BBB+’ to ‘A-’ in both local and foreign currency terms—marking the first time Bulgaria enters the high investment-grade tier. The rating comes with a stable outlook, the Ministry of Finance confirmed. Scope’s decision was heavily influenced by Bulgaria’s scheduled entry into the eurozone in January 2026,
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The European Union’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) officially approved Bulgaria’s entry into the euro area on Tuesday, finalising the legal and institutional framework that will allow the country to adopt the common currency on January 1, 2026. The decision was formalised with the adoption of three legal acts, one of which sets the fixed conversion rate at 1.95583 Bulgarian levs
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Slovenia has launched its first-ever 10-year sustainability-linked bond, raising €1 billion and earning an ‘A’ rating from Fitch Ratings. The issuance, which matures in July 2035, is the country’s inaugural bond under its Sovereign Sustainability-Linked Bond Framework introduced in March 2025. Fitch’s rating aligns with Slovenia’s Long-Term Foreign Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR), which remains at ‘A’ with a Positive Outlook. The
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Greece’s Eurobank S.A. announced on June 27 its intention to explore a parallel listing of its shares on the Main Market of the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE), further deepening its strategic footprint in the region. The move follows the bank’s recent acquisition of 100% of Hellenic Bank—the largest foreign investment in Cyprus to date—and reflects Eurobank’s long-term vision to bolster its presence
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At the end of May 2025, broad money (M3) in Romania reached RON 749.9 billion (~€151.2 billion), up 0.9% month-on-month and 8.7% year-on-year, according to data from the National Bank of Romania (BNR). Adjusted for inflation, the real annual growth rate stood at 3.1%. Loans to the non-government sector rose by 1.5% month-on-month to RON 431.8 billion (~€87.1 billion), with a 9.7% annual increase.
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SIGNAL IDUNA ASIGURARE REASIGURARE has received final approval from Romania’s Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) to acquire a majority stake in Garanta Asigurări, formerly owned by Ethniki Insurance, Greece’s most established composite insurer. This marks another strategic step in SIGNAL IDUNA’s steady expansion in Romania, a country where the group has operated for over 16 years. Known for its focus on health and
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Romania’s Ministry of Finance (MF) has successfully attracted a total of RON 1.6 billion (EUR 330 million) through the fifth Fidelis government bond issuance of 2025, targeting retail investors. The funds were raised via seven separate issues—amounting to RON 537 million and EUR 222 million—and were listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) on Friday, June 20th. This latest offering was part
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The First Investment Bank (Fibank), Bulgaria’s largest bank with local capital, has announced plans to expand into new European Union markets, starting with neighboring Greece. The lender, which already operates in Cyprus and Albania, said it views Greece as a natural next step due to shared borders, rising trade volume, and Bulgaria’s deepening EU integration—now bolstered by its recent entry into the
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The African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA), a privately owned financial rating body, is expected to begin operations by September 2025. The new agency will provide credit ratings tailored to the continent’s specific needs, addressing long-standing concerns about the methodologies employed by major international rating firms. AfCRA will focus on local currency debt issued by African governments, financial institutions, and corporates. To safeguard
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The National Bank of Romania (NBR) reported that as of 31 May 2025, foreign exchange reserves stood at EUR 55,661 million, down from EUR 62,414 million on 30 April 2025 — a decline of over EUR 6.7 billion in one month. This significant decrease was driven by outflows totaling EUR 12,580 million, including changes in credit institutions’ required foreign currency reserves, repayments
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