NO VAT 2007 
Image by NO VAT – Facciamo Breccia
(Title) The rapidly deteriorating economic conditions led to a further increase in NPLs in the first quarter of 2010. The ratio of loans in arrears (over 90 days) of the National Bank was the end of March to 7.1% (from 6.4% at end-December 2009), the Eurobank EFG to 7.3% (from 6.9% ), Alpha Bank to 6.3% (5.7%) and Piraeus Bank to 5.6% from 5.1% in December 2009. According to staff estimates banks, delays will increase in both 2010 and the first half of 2011. They add that the growth of late will be reduced because of the positive contribution of refinancing programs applicable to both businesses and households. At the end of 2009 the ratio of non performing loans stood at 7.7% versus 5% in 2008 and 4.5% in 2007 and estimated that at the end of 2010 will reach 9.5%, corresponding to problem loans amounting about 24 billion. The housing credit delays amounted to 7.4% from 5.3% in 2008 and 3.6% in 2007, consumer credit at 13.4% from 8.2% in 2008 and 6% in 2007, while the business Faith delays amounted to 6.7% from 4.3% in 2008 and 4.6% in 2007. To address the increasing delays that forced banks to increase provisions. Only in the first quarter, the four commercial banks (National, Eurobank, Alpha and Piraeus) made provisions amounting to a billion, a move that had a direct impact on profitability.
Pinch TV
20 – 6-2010
Image by Strevo
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Carnegie policy analyst Karim Sadjadpour for a discussion of Iran, its domestic politics and foreign policy. Questions addressed include: What are the dynamics of internal politics? What is the role of the Revolutionary Guard? What are Iran’s regional goals? What are its goals in Iraq? Can its quest for nuclear weapons be halted? and how should the United States deal with this formidable power in the vital Middle East?
Ralph Nader Poster 
Image by pjchmiel
