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Carney: UK stability outlook has 'worsened' in light of Greece | Carney: UK stability outlook has 'worsened' in light of Greece |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The outlook for the UK's financial stability "has worsened" in the light of events in Greece, Bank of England governor Mark Carney has warned. | The outlook for the UK's financial stability "has worsened" in the light of events in Greece, Bank of England governor Mark Carney has warned. |
Risks in relation to Greece include a reduction in the risk appetite of businesses and a knock-on effect on households, Mr Carney said. | Risks in relation to Greece include a reduction in the risk appetite of businesses and a knock-on effect on households, Mr Carney said. |
But the UK's direct financial exposure to Greece is "minimal", he said. | But the UK's direct financial exposure to Greece is "minimal", he said. |
On Tuesday night, Greece became the first developed nation to fail to make a payment to the IMF. | On Tuesday night, Greece became the first developed nation to fail to make a payment to the IMF. |
The International Monetary Fund confirmed that Greece had failed to make a repayment equivalent to about €1.5bn (£1.1bn). | The International Monetary Fund confirmed that Greece had failed to make a repayment equivalent to about €1.5bn (£1.1bn). |
This week, Greece closed its banks and restricted cash withdrawals. On Sunday, the country is due to hold a snap referendum on the crisis. | This week, Greece closed its banks and restricted cash withdrawals. On Sunday, the country is due to hold a snap referendum on the crisis. |
Greece could exit the eurozone, and possibly even the European Union, if an effective resolution to the debt crisis is not found. | |
Speaking at a briefing on the Bank of England's latest Financial Stability Report, Mr Carney said: "Events in Greece have tipped the balance to 'the outlook has worsened,'" he said. | Speaking at a briefing on the Bank of England's latest Financial Stability Report, Mr Carney said: "Events in Greece have tipped the balance to 'the outlook has worsened,'" he said. |
The UK was "relatively well insulated" from the direct consequences of events in Greece, Mr Carney said. UK banks had a small exposure to Greece relative to their capital base, and Greek banks' UK footprint was "tiny". | The UK was "relatively well insulated" from the direct consequences of events in Greece, Mr Carney said. UK banks had a small exposure to Greece relative to their capital base, and Greek banks' UK footprint was "tiny". |
But he said the issue seemed to be a question of what would happen more broadly to the risks that businesses were prepared to take, and the possible knock-on effects on the wider UK economy. | But he said the issue seemed to be a question of what would happen more broadly to the risks that businesses were prepared to take, and the possible knock-on effects on the wider UK economy. |
He added: "In contrast [to direct UK risk from Greece], our economic and financial exposure to the euro area is considerable. Fortunately, the euro-area economy is stronger than a few years ago. | He added: "In contrast [to direct UK risk from Greece], our economic and financial exposure to the euro area is considerable. Fortunately, the euro-area economy is stronger than a few years ago. |
"UK authorities will continue to monitor the situation thoroughly and will take any action necessary to safeguard UK financial stability." | "UK authorities will continue to monitor the situation thoroughly and will take any action necessary to safeguard UK financial stability." |
Crisis talks | |
There are two crucial meetings scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to discuss whether to give Greece access to emergency funds. | |
European Central Bank (ECB) officials will decide whether to grant an emergency loan to Greece. | |
And Eurozone finance minsters will discuss Greece's latest proposal for a third bailout. | |
Meanwhile, Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has offered new concessions to the country's creditors. | |
On Tuesday, eurozone ministers refused to extend Greece's bailout, cutting access to billions of euros of funds. The ECB also froze its liquidity lifeline to Greek banks. | |
Hours later, Greece missed its deadline for the €1.5bn payment to the IMF. | |
In July, Greece faces debt repayments of about €8.03bn to its creditors. The cash-strapped country will need to refinance €3bn of six- and three-month Treasury Bills, pay another €3.5bn for a maturing bond held by the European Central Bank, and meet a €450m loan repayment to the IMF. |