The Cyprus Borrowers Association (Syprodat) this week released a statement describing the “immediate and effective implementation of measures to tackle high living costs and secure a better future for young people and society as a whole” as vital.

In its announcement, the association said that “the rising cost of living is one of the most significant challenges faced by young people today, as high living expenses affect their daily lives and future prospects”.

“The increase in the prices of essential goods, along with high housing and energy costs, has impacted young people’s financial independence, forcing many to seek less favourable alternatives,” it added.

According to Syprodat, addressing high living costs requires “targeted measures that will provide relief to citizens, particularly young people, while also supporting the economy’s sustainability”.

Limassol continues to lead the office rental market in Cyprus, with prices averaging €29 per square metre, while Nicosia remains a more affordable alternative at €13 per square metre, according to a report by Landbank Analytics.

The analysis, compiled from major real estate platforms in January 2025, provides a comprehensive breakdown of office, retail, and warehouse rental prices across Cyprus, emphasising key regional trends.

In the office rental sector, 506 properties are currently available for lease across Cyprus, with an average asking price of €24 per square metre.

Notably, Limassol dominates the market, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the total supply with 352 available properties.

Prices in the city range from €5 to €70 per square metre, reflecting its status as Cyprus’ primary business hub.

Meanwhile, Nicosia follows with 89 available offices, making up 17.6 per cent of the total supply. Here, rental prices peak at €33 per square metre.

At the same time, demand in Paphos is rising, with 25 available offices renting at an average of €17 per square metre and reaching a high of €50 per square metre.

Salamis Tours is set to be fully acquired by E.V.H. Investments Limited, as the public tender offer for 100 per cent of its issued share capital has been completed.

According to reports that emerged on Tuesday, the company now plans to carry out a ‘squeeze out’ as soon as possible.

The public offer, which had been submitted on November 12, 2024, closed on Monday, with a final acceptance rate of 4.55 per cent after review.

The acceptance and transfer forms submitted in accordance with the announcement represent 1,662,366 shares of Salamis.

Combined with the 86.64 per cent already held by Salamis at the expiry of the takeover offer on January 31, 2025, E.V.H. now holds a total direct stake of 91.193 per cent of the issued share capital.

Consumer staple prices showed mixed trends in January, with frozen fish recording the highest increase at 16.3 per cent and sugar seeing the steepest decline at 16.8 per cent, according to the Consumer Protection Service.

Prices rose in 26 categories, with 11 increasing by more than 3 per cent. The biggest hikes were in frozen fish, up by 16.3 per cent, pretzels by 11.2 per cent, frozen molluscs and shellfish by 8.2 per cent, and flour by 8 per cent, compared to December.

At the same time, 18 product categories recorded a drop, while one remained unchanged, the service said, citing data from the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry.

The January report tracks the weighted average price of 250 key consumer products, based on daily sales volumes and prices from 400 retail outlets across the country.

Invest Cyprus, in collaboration with the Nicosia Municipality, hosted a networking event this week titled ‘Why Nicosia’, aiming to connect investors with key institutional stakeholders.

According to an announcement released on Tuesday, the event provided a platform for networking and exchanging views, reinforcing Nicosia’s position as a prime destination for foreign direct investment and corporate headquarters.

“The Why Nicosia event is a crucial step in strengthening business and investment ties between the capital and foreign investors,” said Nicosia mayor Charalambos Prountzos.

What is more, Prountzos outlined the municipality’s vision and plans to establish the city as a central business hub.

Meanwhile, Invest Cyprus CEO Marios Tannousis highlighted the organisation’s goal of facilitating discussions and showcasing Nicosia’s unique advantages.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) on Tuesday marked ten years of social responsibility efforts, reinforcing its commitment to community support and sustainable development.

According to an announcement, the commission has implemented a number of targeted initiatives over the past decade, “aimed at strengthening social cohesion and assisting vulnerable groups”.

“We do not view corporate social responsibility as a mere series of charitable actions but as an integral part of our culture,” said Elena Karkoti, a senior officer at CySEC and coordinator of its social responsibility programme.

The commission’s social responsibility initiatives, Karkoti explained, “align with its core values of transparency, accountability, and ethical corporate governance”.

The European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) “marks a watershed moment in digital finance”, according to Costas Papadopoulos, executive director at Cypriot fintech Moneygate.

MiCA will introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto-assets, significantly affecting how financial institutions operate, both in the Europe Union and elsewhere.

“At its foundation, MiCA brings clarity to the crypto landscape through clear asset classification and oversight,” Papadopoulos noted.

He explained that “the regulation defines specific categories for digital assets, including Asset-Referenced Tokens and Electronic Money Tokens, each with tailored requirements that address their unique risks and use cases.”

“This classification provides the structure needed for sustainable market growth,” he added.

The agreement for the sale of Ermes Department Stores’ investment in Superhome Centre DIY has been finalised.

In a statement issued by Ermes, following its previous announcement on January 31, 2025, the company informed shareholders and the investment community that the transaction for the disposal of its stake in Superhome Centre (DIY) Limited has been successfully completed.

According to the details outlined in the earlier announcement, the sale of 100 per cent of Superhome’s share capital to Vasilitsi DIY Ltd was concluded for a total sum of €94 million. Ermes received €39.4 million for its 51 per cent stake in the company.

Paphos’ hotel association and the city’s tourist board have welcomed the planned resumption of flights from Israel to Cyprus in March, saying that the Israeli market was one of the most important for the area.

Chairman of the Paphos branch of hoteliers Thanos Michaelides said flights to Paphos airport would help increase tourism, as Israel was the second largest market after the UK.

Cyprus hotel association (Pasyxe) director Christos Angelides said visitors from Israel in 2025 were expected to reach 1.3 million, adding that Paphos was receiving 25 per cent of them.

The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) ended Tuesday, February 25, with losses.

The general Cyprus Stock Market Index stood at 228.75 points at 12:33, reflecting a drop of 0.13 per cent.

The FTSE / CySE 20 Index was at 138.84 points, representing a decrease of 0.1 per cent.

The total value of transactions came up to €227,620, until the aforementioned time during trading.

In terms of the sub-indexes, the main and alternative indexes fell by 0.12 per cent and 0.17 per cent respectively. The hotel and investment firm indexes remained stable.

The biggest investment interest was attracted by Demetra Holdings (no change), the Bank of Cyprus (-0.37 per cent), Hellenic Bank (no change), the Cyprus Trading Corporation (-2.8 per cent), and Woolworth Cyprus Properties (-3.67 per cent).