ArmInfo. In the banking sector of Armenia, the volume of lending accelerated in growth in 2023 from 13%  to 21%, reaching 5.8 trillion drams ($14.2 billion). But this was not enough to save profits from the decline, which, after a 3-fold jump in 2022, decreased by 9.2% in 2023, amounting to 229.9 billion drams ($567.9 million). This is evidenced by the data of the Financial Rating of Banks of Armenia as of December 31, 2023, prepared by  ArmInfo. 

ArmInfo.It is too early to talk about the threat of overheating in the consumer lending market.  Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Martin Galstyan expressed a similar opinion during a press conference on March 12.

ArmInfo.Armenia's banking system is making half-hearted attempts to reanimate corporate lending, which snowed a decline last year, against a backdrop of accelerated growth in private loans, which ensure acceptable return on and diversification of assets. However, such activity requires special attention needed for preventing delinquent loans from turning into risky ones.  

ArmInfo. A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mr Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF Middle  East and Central Asia Department, and Ms Iva Petrova, IMF Mission Chief for Armenia, was on a visit to Armenia recently. In an interview with Mr Emmanuil Mkrtchyan, CEO, ArmInfo News Agency, Mr Jihad Azour said that the IMF delegation visited Armenia on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Armenian national currency  and foundation of the Central Bank of Armenia, landmarks in Armenia's history.

ArmInfo.The Russian stock market ended the year 2015 ambiguously, but, nevertheless, the ruble index managed to show a good increase. How the market lived in 2015, what challenges it faced, and what factors had the most significant impact on it — said Konstantin Tserazov, an independent expert, economist, ex-deputy head of global markets at Troika Dialog, in our interview.

ArmInfo.How the market lived in 2015, what challenges it faced and what factors influenced it, Konstantin Tserazov, an independent expert, economist, ex-deputy head of global markets at Troika Dialog, told in our interview.

ArmInfo. Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") upgraded Ameriabank’s Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) to ba3 from b1 and affirmed the bank’s long-term deposit ratings at Ba3. The rating agency also changed the outlook on the Ba3 long-term deposit ratings to stable from negative.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. Armenia's commercial banks and lending agencies will from now on issue consumer and mortgage loans in AMD terms only. Armenia's Parliament is  discussing the draft amendments to the Law on Currency Control. 

ArmInfo.Armenia's commercial banks and lending agencies will from now on issue loans in AMD terms only. The Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and  Budgetary Affairs, RA Parliament, approved the draft amendments to  the Law on currency control proposed by a number of MPs. 

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.In an interview with Global Markets Magazine, Hovhannes Toroyan, Chief Financial Officer at Ameriabank CJSC, explains the Bank’s strategy and highlights some of the reasons for its success in the Armenia market.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.Armenia has entered a stage of lending stagnation. Evidence thereof is a considerable increase in bank profits due to highly active foreign exchange and  securities transactions rather than due to the major income item,  lending.

ArmInfo.The international Standard&Poors rating agency has maintained Armenia's sovereign rating at "B+" and "B" for issuing long-term and short-term  liabilities in foreign and national currencies, but worsened its  outlook from "Positive" to "Stable". This is stated in the message on  the website of the agency.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. For 2022, the Road Department Fund of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures is hatching ambitious plans for the volume of road  construction work. This was stated by Vahagn Stepanyan, Head of the  Program Management Division of the Road Department Fund.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.IDBank and Idram have established a new shopping culture in Armenia. Non-cash QR payments and non-cash payments in physical and online stores are commonplace for corporate customers, and Rocket line digital credit has also solved the problem of wallet content, or rather its balance.