Fitch Ratings has affirmed Bulgaria's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'BBB' with a Positive Outlook.
Bulgaria's ratings are supported by its strong external and public balance sheets versus 'BBB' peers and credible policy framework, underpinned by EU membership and a long-standing currency board. The Positive Outlook reflects the prospects for euro adoption, which would lead to further improvement in external metrics. (…) This is balanced by low level of investments/GDP and unfavourable demographics, which weigh on potential growth and government finances over the long term. (…) Bulgaria's HICP inflation is easing but remains significantly above that of the three best performing EU member states, and it does not currently comply with the price stability criterion. Given considerable uncertainty about the inflation trajectory, it remains questionable whether Bulgaria will meet the price stability criterion in mid-2024 (the key date for 2025 euro adoption).
Bulgaria is on course to meet all other euro-adoption nominal criteria (public finances, interest rate and exchange rate). Overall, we consider euro adoption as supportive to the rating, as all else equal, the output of Fitch's proprietary Sovereign Rating Model (SRM) would improve by around two notches, Fitch Ratings states.
Until the end of 2024, businesses will continue to receive compensations for high electricity prices. They will be 100% after a price of over 90 euros per megawatt hour on the stock exchange. The previous threshold was 100 euros. The..
Deposits in banks for the first quarter of 2024 have reached a record level of 75.4 billion euros. From January to March, deposits grew by EUR 1.35 billion or by 1.8%. The rise is mainly due to increased household deposits, the..
Although bilateral trade reached nearly $4 billion last year, there are still untapped opportunities to further increase Bulgarian exports to China. This was made clear at a meeting between the Minister of Economy and Industry, Mr. Petko Nikolov, and..
Until the end of 2024, businesses will continue to receive compensations for high electricity prices. They will be 100% after a price..
Deposits in banks for the first quarter of 2024 have reached a record level of 75.4 billion euros. From January to March, deposits..
+359 2 9336 661