Banks tightened loan conditions in the third quarter of 2014 according to the latest Bank Lending Survey by the Central Bank of Cyprus.

The cooperative sector has announced it will soon proceed with a 2% reduction in rates for agricultural loans and would reduce rates for housing loans in combination with a reduction in deposit rates.

Harmonized inflation (HICP) recorded a negative rate in December 2014 after seven consecutive months, compared with December 2013, according to new data from the Statistical Service of Cyprus.

The European Central Bank and the Single Supervisory Mechanism have approved the appointment of Bert Pijls as the Chief Executive Officer of Hellenic Bank.

Companies from countries such as Russia, Luxembourg and Greece are showing increased interest in Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS), said the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).

Cabinet recently gave the green light for the state to launch a search for a private investor to purchase the logo and name of the recently defunct Cyprus Airways.

Cypriot banks are taking steps to comply with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

The Cyprus seasonally adjusted external current account recorded a deficit of €0,3 billion in Q3 2014, compared to a balance in the second quarter of 2014 and a deficit of €0,4 billion in the first quarter of 2014, according to a second estimate released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Slightly more than one in ten non-performing loans (NPLs) were restructured by September 30, 2014, the House Institutions Committee heard recently from the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC).

Thirteen operators have expressed interest in Cyprus’ casino project, expected to cost some €500 million, MPs heard recently.