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Non-Performing Loans In Cyprus Banking System Drop To 6.5% In Q3 2024

The ratio of Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) in Cyprus’s banking sector fell to 6.5%, equivalent to €1.6 billion, at the end of September 2024, down from 6.9% (€1.7 billion) in June 2024, according to the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC).

The coverage ratio for NPLs, reflecting provisions held against these loans, increased slightly to 55.7% (€0.9 billion) by the end of September, compared to 55% in June 2024.

The CBC attributed the reduction in NPLs to several factors:

  • Loan repayments, including debt-to-asset swaps.
  • Successful restructurings, with loans reclassified as performing after probation periods.
  • Loan write-offs are often tied to previously provisioned amounts or accounting set-offs.

Key Highlights

  • Household NPLs: Declined to €900 million in September 2024 (from €916 million in August), representing 8.5% of total household loans. Total provisions for household NPLs accounted for 41% (€388 million) of the total.
  • Total Household Loans: Reached €10.57 billion.
  • Corporate NPLs: Dropped to €658 million in September (from €682 million in August), representing 5.5% of total corporate loans. Of these, €610 million related to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with provisions covering 75.5% of total corporate NPLs.
  • Restructured Loans: Totalled €1.3 billion at the end of Q3 2024, with €0.7 billion still classified as NPLs.

The steady decline in NPLs reflects ongoing efforts by Cypriot banks to manage credit risk and improve loan portfolio quality, supporting the overall stability of the financial system.

TikTok Returns To US App Stores 

TikTok is once again available for download in the Apple and Google app stores in the US, following a delay in the enforcement of its ban by former President Donald Trump. The ban’s postponement until April 5 gives the administration additional time to evaluate the situation.

Key Developments

The decision to restore TikTok access came after Google and Apple received reassurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for reinstating the Chinese-owned app. According to Bloomberg, US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter outlining these guarantees.

In an executive order signed on January 20, Trump instructed the attorney general not to take enforcement action for 75 days, providing time for his administration to determine how to proceed.

Uncertain Future For TikTok In The US

While TikTok is back on the US app stores, its long-term survival remains uncertain. If no deal is reached by early April to address national security concerns, the app may face another shutdown. ByteDance, the parent company, has insisted that TikTok is not for sale.

Legislation And Pressure On ByteDance

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemy-Controlled Apps Act, which passed with bipartisan support in Congress, mandates a nationwide ban on TikTok unless ByteDance sells its US operations. This law was signed by President Joe Biden in April of last year.

In late January, the app was briefly removed from US stores following the ban’s activation, impacting over 170 million American users. However, TikTok was restored soon after, following Trump’s intervention in his first hours as president. During that time, he signed an executive order allowing 75 days for a deal that would safeguard national security. Trump also suggested that the US could take a 50% stake in TikTok, a move he believed would keep the app “in good hands.”

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