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Cyprus emerged as one of the strongest fiscal performers in the European Union in 2025, according to data released by Eurostat, achieving a budget surplus at a time when most member states continued to run deficits. The figures indicate that Cyprus was among a small group of countries to record a government surplus, reaching 3.4 per cent of GDP. It joined Denmark at 2.9 per cent, Ireland at 1.8 per cent, Greece at 1.7 per cent and Portugal at 0.7 per cent, standing in clear c

The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) has indicated that deposit rates in Cyprus remain below those observed across the eurozone, even as lending rates present a more mixed picture across different categories.   According to the CBC’s latest data, the average interest rate for new housing loans in Cyprus stood at 3.04 per cent in February, compared with a higher eurozone average of 3.41 per cent. For household deposits with a maturity of up to one year, the average rate reached 1.

The Bank of Cyprus announced on Wednesday that its board of directors has formally approved the annual financial report for the year ending December 31, 2025, reaffirming a year marked by solid profitability, sustained lending expansion and a strong capital base. The report incorporates the audited financial statements of the Bank of Cyprus Group, which includes the holding company, Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited and its subsidiaries. The full annual financial report h

Cyprus registered a further drop in unemployment in February 2026, even as joblessness across the euro area edged higher on a monthly basis, according to newly released data from Eurostat.   The figures showed that Cyprus’ unemployment rate fell to 4.20 per cent in February 2026, compared with 4.50 per cent in the same month a year earlier, highlighting continued strengthening in the country’s labour market. In absolute terms, the number of unemployed individuals declined to

The introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) is transforming Europe’s digital asset landscape while simultaneously bringing new regulatory complexities to the surface, according to George Theocharides, chairman of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.   Writing in an article originally published in Eurofi magazine, Theocharides characterised MiCA as a fundamental turning point for the European crypto-asset market. He explained that an industry w

Cyprus continues to rank near the bottom among European Union member states in terms of road freight transport share in 2024, underlining the country’s ongoing dependence on maritime logistics. Data released by Eurostat shows that Cyprus recorded a road freight share of 3.5 per cent in 2024, reflecting a modest rise from 3.4 per cent in 2023 and 2.7 per cent in 2022. Despite this incremental growth, the country still placed third from the lowest within the EU, excluding Malta

Bank of Cyprus has reached an agreement with Cyprus Development Bank for the acquisition of a portfolio comprising performing loans, deposits, and other assets and liabilities, with the transaction reportedly taking place at a price close to the nominal value of the assets. Under the terms of the agreement, the portfolio includes performing loans of approximately €150 million and deposits of roughly €500 million, based on a reference date of December 31, 2025. The move forms

The euro area recorded a trade deficit of €1.9 billion in January 2026, according to data from Eurostat, while Cyprus posted a notably improved trade balance over the same period. The deficit for the euro area widened from €1.40 billion in January 2025, reflecting shifts in trade dynamics across key sectors. Exports fell to €215.30 billion in January 2026, down 7.6 percent from €232.90 billion a year earlier, while imports also declined to €217.20 billion, a drop of 7.3 perce

National Bank of Greece has announced the successful completion of the Etalia B transaction, involving the sale of non-performing exposures. The deal concerns a portfolio of non-performing loans with €0.1 billion in outstanding principal, representing a further step in the bank’s ongoing efforts to streamline its balance sheet. The portfolio was transferred to Creditable Opportunities Fund SCA SICAV-RAIF, an acquisition vehicle affiliated with the EOS Group, while management

Bank of Cyprus has confirmed the schedule for reviewing its audited financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2025, alongside publishing an updated financial calendar for 2026 that outlines key reporting and shareholder-related dates. The bank stated that its board of directors will meet on March 30, 2026, to assess the audited financial statements of the Bank of Cyprus Group, marking a critical step ahead of the official disclosure of results. According to the an

High concentration in banking markets delays the speed at which central bank interest rate changes reach consumers and businesses, according to a study released by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) on Tuesday. The study, authored by Aris Avgousti and Stephani Michael of the centre for strategy and policy production, revealed that banking concentration and monetary policy transmission remain intrinsically linked, with more concentrated markets exhibiting a weaker and slower pas

An administrative penalty has been imposed by the Consumer Protection Service (CPS) on Alpha Bank Cyprus for the inclusion of abusive clauses in mortgage loan agreements concluded with consumers. The decision, dated 9 March 2026, stipulates the imposition of a €160,000 fine and requires the bank to immediately discontinue the use of the specific contractual provisions. The sanction forms part of a wider ex officio investigation conducted by the Consumer Protection Service int

OPAP reported gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €2,407.9 million for the full year 2025, marking a 4.9% increase compared with the previous year and setting a new record for the Greek gaming operator. The milestone was largely supported by continued expansion in online gaming alongside solid performance from the company’s retail operations. However, a significant increase in operating expenses during the year placed pressure on profitability, reducing EBITDA margins and slightly

Industrial producer prices in Cyprus registered the steepest monthly decline across the European Union in January 2026, according to newly released estimates from Eurostat, even as producer prices climbed across both the euro area and the broader EU during the same period.   The EU’s statistical office reported that industrial producer prices rose by 0.7 per cent in the euro area and by 0.8 per cent across the EU in January 2026 when compared with December 2025. This marked a

The Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) has reported that Cyprus’s services and transport sectors experienced broad-based growth during the final quarter of 2025. According to the data, the Turnover Value Index for the fourth quarter showed a 9.5 per cent increase in the accommodation and food service activities sector compared with the same period in 2024. Real estate activities also recorded an upward trajectory, with growth of 5.7 per cent during the three-month period, wh

Athens has announced that all options are being considered in the fight against black market gambling, including prison sentences and consumer fines for repeated participation on illegal websites. Greece is moving forward with plans to become the first EU country to introduce a “comprehensive framework” specifically targeting illegal gambling activities and associated crimes. The initiative comes from Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of National Economy and Finance, who is adva

The Central Bank of Cyprus has unveiled the CBC Blog, a new digital communication platform designed to deepen public understanding of economic developments and the role of central banking. The initiative, according to the bank, is part of a broader strategy to strengthen transparency and improve the flow of information to the public regarding economic conditions and monetary policy. Through this newly established blog, the central bank aims to publish timely, accessible and a

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) has underlined the substantial export potential arising from the newly concluded free trade agreement between the European Union and India, noting that the arrangement is expected to open important new pathways for European exporters, including businesses in Cyprus.   According to the chamber, the agreement, finalised in January 2026 and anticipated to take effect in the coming years, will make India’s vast market of around 1

The foreign exchange sector in Cyprus is firmly regulated and plays a vital role in supporting the national economy, employing thousands of people and contributing significantly to growth.   At a recent conference dedicated to explaining the institutional framework of the industry, stakeholders highlighted that forex is a legitimate and strictly supervised financial activity, clearly separate from illegal operations and fraud.   Strict supervision and full European compliance

The European Central Bank (ECB) has released its latest wage tracker data, indicating that negotiated wage growth across the euro area is set to moderate in 2026, reflecting easing pay pressures in the bloc.   The headline ECB wage tracker, which covers active collective bargaining agreements and smooths one-off payments over time, shows negotiated wage growth of 3.2 per cent in 2025, based on a coverage of 49.9 per cent of employees in participating countries, and 2.4 per ce