Firsts Home

Fixed Income Sovereign and corporate debt, credit, and ratings
First with interview on Greek budget deficit 10.16.2009 An exclusive interview with the new Greek finance minister George Papaconstantino on Oct 16 scooped all-comers, telling us that getting the country’s double-digit budget deficit down to the EU’s 3 percent limit would take 3 or 4 years, and a whole lot more besides. His comments to Reuters pushed spreads between Greek and German bonds to 11-day highs. The interview was all the more impressive as it ran just a few hours before the prime minister stood up in parliament and covered much of the same ground. MARKET IMPACT Spreads between Greek and German bonds reached 11-day highs. Reuters Firsts will need at least flash player 9 to give you the full experience. The latest Flash player can be downloaded here	firsts across any industry Commodities & Energy Energy, metals, agricultural and environmental markets FX & Money Markets Macroeconomics, monetary policy, FX and money markets Politics & Risk Politics and political risk Equity & Derivatives Companies, sectors, M&A and the financial industry Fixed Income Sovereign and corporate debt, credit, and ratings firsts by region Americas View stories from this region Europe / Middle East / Africa View stories from this region Asia View stories from this region Emerging Markets View stories from this region

Fixed Income

Sovereign and corporate debt, credit, and ratings

First with interview on Greek budget deficit

10.16.2009

An exclusive interview with the new Greek finance minister George Papaconstantino on Oct 16 scooped all-comers, telling us that getting the country’s double-digit budget deficit down to the EU’s 3 percent limit would take 3 or 4 years, and a whole lot more besides. His comments to Reuters pushed spreads between Greek and German bonds to 11-day highs. The interview was all the more impressive as it ran just a few hours before the prime minister stood up in parliament and covered much of the same ground.