Greek government managed primary budget surplus in January to July period
The Greek government had a primary budget surplus of €2.6bn (£2.2bn) in the period January to July 2013, significantly beating the interim target of a €3.1bn deficit, deputy finance minister Christos Staikouras reported today.
This will be a boost for finance minister Yannis Stournaras, who has said the Greek government is more concerned with producing a primary budget surplus this year and returning to growth from the beginning of 2014 than on filling gaps in financing over the next years. Stournaras thinks these targets will be a "catalyst" to solving the financing gap issue.
More recently, he said that achiving economic growth and a budget surplus would be needed before the country can return to the bond markets and exit the crisis.
Greece is due to report its gross domestic product results at 10:00 (BST) this morning.