Greece, Bailout | featured news

After days of talks, Greek political leaders reached a deal Thursday to support a package of harsh austerity measures demanded by Greece’s financial backers in return for a bailout.

Stocks edged lower on Monday as a delay by debt-ridden Greece in accepting the terms of a bailout gave investors little reason to buy equities after a five-week rally.

Greece and its private creditors said on Saturday they were piecing together the final elements of a debt swap and expected to have a deal ready next week, essential for sealing a new bailout and avoiding an uncontrolled default.

Greek officials reject German proposals for a eurozone budget commissioner to oversee spending, as agreement nears on a second bailout for Greece.

Economist Lucas Papademos will be Greece’s next prime minister, the Greek president’s office announced Thursday, giving to a non-politician the job of passing an unpopular bailout plan before elections are held next year.

The next tranche of rescue loans for Greece will be withheld until after a bailout referendum, expected in early December, European leaders warn.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Tuesday after investors were blindsided by a surprise call for a Greek referendum on an EU bailout plan, casting doubt on the sustainability of the recent market rally.

A top bank lobbyist insisted Saturday that banks and the eurozone are far from reaching a deal to cut Greece's debt, despite claims by eurozone finance ministers that they will ask banks to take steeper losses on their Greek bonds.

By insisting that it receive collateral from Greece in return for aid, Finland threatens to upend an agreement that euro zone countries made in July to expand the E.U. bailout fund.

Under the plan, French banks would give Athens more time to pay back loans as they come due over the next three years.