Moody’s Investors Service today upgraded the long-term deposit ratings of the National Bank of Greece and Eurobank SA. to Ba3 from B2, of Alpha Bank SA to B1 from B2 and of Piraeus Bank SA. το B2 from B3. The outlook for deposit ratings for all four banks remains positive.

The Greek state will suffer a loss of between 8 and 12.5 billion euros from the implementation of a Bank of Greece's plan to set up a "bad bank" to absorb Greek banks' non-performing loans, a survey on "Lessons from Financial Assistance to Greece" conducted under the guideance of Joaquin Almunia, former EU Economic Affairs Commissioner for the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), said on Thursday.

Greek banks will be able to place approximately 7 to 8 billion euros in the bond market from March when according to all indications the ceiling set by the European Central Bank on Greek banks' purchases of Greek state long term bonds will be lifted.