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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

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

The European Commission has unveiled its proposal for EU Inc., a new unified corporate framework intended to serve as the foundation for the EU’s 28th company law regime. The initiative introduces an optional, digital-by-default European corporate structure aimed at making it easier for businesses to start, operate, and expand across the EU. According to the Commission, the proposal is designed to encourage companies to remain in Europe while attracting businesses that might

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

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

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued its first risk monitoring report of 2026, cautioning that European Union financial markets remain exposed to high levels of systemic stress and potential price swings, despite resilient market performance in the latter half of 2025. The report underlined that strong recent market returns have not eliminated underlying structural vulnerabilities across the EU’s financial system. ESMA noted that its risk assessment

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

In the aftermath of Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting Dubai last week, concerns among investors have intensified, prompting some wealthy residents to move funds out of the emirate as geopolitical tensions escalate. Two Indian entrepreneurs living in Dubai attempted to transfer more than $100,000 each from their local bank accounts to Singapore shortly after the attacks, seeking to reduce their exposure to potential instability. Their efforts initially ran into d

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

One in three people and more than half of businesses in Cyprus have been targeted by cyberattacks over the past year, according to two nationwide surveys carried out by the Communications Commissioner and the Digital Security Authority, highlighting growing digital threats across the country. The findings showed that 33 per cent of individuals experienced a cyberattack within the last 12 months, while nearly half of companies reported at least one security breach during the

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

European Central Bank and European Systemic Risk Board have jointly released a detailed analysis warning that expanding connections between traditional banks and the non-bank financial intermediation sector could create structural vulnerabilities capable of intensifying financial stress during adverse market environments. The joint publication, titled “Financial stability risks from linkages between banks and the non-bank financial intermediation sector”, concludes that while

Russia has reportedly made efforts to completely restrict access to WhatsApp within the country, according to the company, as authorities continue expanding controls over digital communication platforms. WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, said the action appears intended to redirect its user base — estimated to exceed 100 million people in Russia — toward what it described as a "state-owned surveillance app". The reported move follows additional restrictions imposed by Russian

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

The volume of non-performing loans (NPLs) within the Cypriot banking system continued to improve, according to the latest report issued by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC), based on data as of November 30, 2025. The figures published by the CBC provide an overview of aggregate NPL indicators across the country’s entire banking sector. By the end of November 2025, the NPL ratio—excluding exposures to central banks and other credit institutions—fell to 4.0 per cent. This repres

Russia’s largest lender, Sberbank, is moving closer to launching loans secured by cryptocurrency and said on Friday that it is ready to work alongside the country’s central bank to help develop the regulatory framework required for such products, according to Reuters. The bank has already carried out an initial test of the model, having issued the country’s first bitcoin-backed loan in January to one of Russia’s largest bitcoin mining firms, IntelionData. Sberbank described t

The government led by former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews supported thousands of so-called “golden ticket” visas through a migration pathway that has since been accused of being vulnerable to exploitation, including alleged use in money-laundering activities. Data shows Victoria sponsored more wealthy migrants — particularly Chinese investors — through the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) program than any other Australian state. Newly released figures indicate the Victoria

Geopolitical tensions linked to Greenland contributed to renewed investor withdrawals from European and UK equity funds in January, according to the latest fund flow index from global funds network Calastone. Equity funds recorded net outflows of £697 million during the month, extending the streak of monthly selling to eight consecutive months. European and UK equity funds were hit the hardest by the trend. Calastone said flows were relatively balanced in the early part of Ja