The official blog of Stathis Kassios for Business, Media, Economics & Arts

December 6, 2023: Naftemporiki major business newspaper in Greece, published my new article “ Οι παγίδες της επενδυτικής βαθμίδας “. Welcome to read it and please share with your network: https://www.naftemporiki.gr/afieromata/the-n-society/1544203/oi-pagides-tis-ependytikis-vathmidas/ If you examine the matrix above, Greece still has a long way to go before receiving higher investment grade status from S&P, Moody’s and Fitch. The country needs to move in 2024 from BBB higher up with executing important political & economic reforms that need to take place before further receiving investment upgrades. –Efstathios Kassios www.skassios.com 

The recent news   of receiving the investment grade from the rating agencies and specifically from   S&P   (Standard and Poor's Global Ratings), flooded the domestic and international press and triggered a crescendo of public arguments and commentary from government officials that focused on the positive aspects of the upgrade, while the main opposition contradicted them, stressing the microeconomics of everyday life for the average citizen - a harsh political response to the current government euphoria. The benefits of the investment grade  will logically mature in 2024 when new funding will flow into the Greek government from the bond offers. Financial liquidity will be positively affected, with banks increasing credit lines and businesses receiving loans on more favorable financing terms. Are there countervailing risks  & traps alongside the objective and positive signs of the Greek economy, which has succeeded and survived through a difficult decade ...

In the last few days we have been reading in the local and international press about the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, the decline of Credit Suisse shares - as they reached an all-time low, ¼ of their value - together with the withdrawal of deposits, and other banking shocks which worries investors and depositors in both America and Europe. The first months of the new year have been marked by successive events that have shaken banking credibility, bringing back the bleak memories of 2008 with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Should depositors be worried? How close are we really to another global economic recession? Who's to blame for the new crisis in the banking system? Are these isolated cases or other banks will fall in a downward spiral due to globalization, similar to Covid19 disease which spread from China to the rest of the world? We must recognize that the US government moved quickly to protect the depositors of SVB and SB banks. Accordingly, the Central ...

Read my new article on Greece's Public Debt published at www.apopseis.gr Click on the link below to access the article. Your thoughts and comments are very welcome. https://apopseis.gr/o-efialtis-tou-dimosiou-chreous/ -Stathis Kassios

''As an economist I strongly believe that even if the Greek government retains a 3.5% budget surplus until 2022 this will not directly relate to the sustainability of the public debt which has increased. Furthermore, the surplus means a new round of heavy taxation directly and indirectly. Brussels is pushing for the surplus to be maintained in order to calm creditors and global markets but people and the real economy will suffer.'' - Stathis Kassios Euro Area Welcomes New Greek Government With a Budget Warning. Read the full article HERE via Bloomberg