Highlights

Leading banks in Greece and Cyprus are expected to report another quarter of strong profitability, supported by resilient lending activity, stable interest income and growing fee-based revenues, despite a more challenging interest rate environment. Analysts believe the sector continues to demonstrate solid earnings momentum as institutions benefit from healthy credit demand, disciplined cost management and robust capital positions. Among the strongest expected performers is B

Dutch tax authorities have introduced a series of new VAT-related measures that are expected to reduce compliance costs for businesses by approximately €81 million each year. The savings are expected to come primarily from administrative simplifications, streamlined procedures, and a reduction in the reporting burden faced by entrepreneurs. The measures form part of a wider package of VAT modernisation reforms in the Netherlands, designed to make the VAT system more efficient

Kenya does not need to increase its Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to generate higher government revenue, according to a new study by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), which argues that improving tax administration, expanding compliance and leveraging digital tax systems would be far more effective than imposing higher tax rates. The findings come at a time when Kenya continues to debate its tax policy following a series of Finance Bills aimed

Cyprus' financial system remains resilient and well-capitalised, but heightened geopolitical tensions, global economic uncertainty and emerging risks continue to pose significant challenges to long-term financial stability, according to the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC). The warning comes in the bank's 2025 Financial Stability Report, which concludes that although the country's banking sector has strengthened considerably, vigilance remains essential in an increasingly uncerta

Banks across the euro area adopted more cautious lending practices during 2025 as heightened trade tensions, particularly those affecting exports to the United States, increased risks for businesses, according to the European Central Bank (ECB). The findings were published in an ECB blog post by economists Anastasia Allayioti, Alessandro Ferrari, Petra Köhler-Ulbrich and Matías Lamas Rodríguez, together with research analyst Wouter Wakker. Their analysis combined corporate lo

Global fuel markets are facing prolonged pressure as low inventories and escalating geopolitical risks threaten to keep prices elevated for longer. The intensifying conflict between the United States and Iran is disrupting Asian oil refiners’ plans to increase production in August, raising concerns that global fuel stocks will remain constrained unless China steps in to compensate for the shortfall. Asian refiners had been preparing for a recovery in global fuel production du

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has welcomed the publication of a follow-up assessment by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), which acknowledges the substantial progress made by the Cypriot regulator in strengthening its supervision of investment firms engaged in cross-border activities. The review, conducted by ESMA’s Peer Review Committee (PRC), concludes that CySEC has significantly enhanced its supervisory and enforcement framework

Cyprus stood out from the wider European trend in May 2026 by maintaining stable industrial production, even as both the euro area and the European Union recorded declines, according to the latest figures released by Eurostat. Seasonally adjusted industrial production in Cyprus remained unchanged on a monthly basis in May, following a modest increase of 0.1 per cent recorded in April 2026. While the country's output held steady, industrial production across the euro area de