The mining and metallurgical group Metinvest is seeking a new investor to finance a EUR3 billion ($3.4 billion) steel plant in Italy, as the Ukrainian group seeks to reduce its liabilities, according to Bloomberg.
According to the agency, the group is seeking an additional partner for the project at the site of a former steel mill in Piombino on the Tuscan coast. The company wants to strengthen its financing “in light of war-related risks, given Metinvest’s significant operational presence in Ukraine.”
However, as noted, some potential lenders have become more cautious due to heightened geopolitical risks, including the recent conflict in the Middle East.
“As for the debt capital structure, we have good visibility on it, and we are continuing our dialogue with financial institutions to finalize this matter as well,” a Metinvest representative told the agency.
It is worth noting that the Italian government has designated this initiative as a “national strategic project,” and Metinvest Adria—a joint venture (JV) established last year with the Danieli Group to build this state-of-the-art facility—refers to the project as “the revival of steel in Italy.” It is expected to produce 2.7 million metric tons of low-carbon steel per year and create 1,100 jobs in the region.
According to the initial plan, financing was to consist of debt, government grants, and contributions from the JV partners to the share capital. Metinvest agreed to contribute more than EUR500 million, or 75% of the total equity, but is now seeking to reduce this amount to less than EUR300 million.
Bloomberg adds that Metinvest reported receiving “significant support from all stakeholders,” particularly from the Italian government, which has already approved grants and loan guarantees and allocated funds for the construction of a new berth at the Port of Piombino.
“Metinvest’s financial position deteriorated after the company had to use its cash reserves in April to redeem $428 million in bonds. Some of the company’s assets in Ukraine were lost or damaged as a result of the Russian invasion. Operations were also negatively impacted by high energy costs and a labor shortage,” the report states.
In addition, the report notes that S&P Global Ratings upgraded Metinvest’s credit rating this month following the bond repayment, but maintained a “negative” outlook on the business, emphasizing the need to build up cash reserves. According to S&P, Metinvest’s free cash flow stood at $150 million as of early May.
Metinvest is exploring the possibility of raising long-term financing and recently held meetings with investors to discuss the pricing and structure of a potential bond issuance. Like most Ukrainian companies, Metinvest has not tapped the bond market since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Despite this, the group has managed to meet its financial obligations and reduce its debt burden, according to a Bloomberg report.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group consisting of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its facilities are located in Ukraine—in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions—as well as in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The holding company’s main shareholders are the SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of the Metinvest Group.
Lebanon is preparing to launch a “golden residence permit” program for foreign investors with a minimum investment threshold of $500,000. The initiative is intended to help the country attract capital, create jobs, and support economic recovery following a long-standing financial crisis.
The bill was approved by Lebanon’s parliamentary committee on finance and budget. The bill must now undergo further review and receive parliamentary approval.
Under the initiative, foreign investors will be able to obtain a residence permit in Lebanon provided they invest at least $500,000 in approved economic sectors. This is specifically a residency program, not a direct sale of citizenship or passports.
Lebanon is attempting to join the global competition for wealthy investors, a field in which countries in the Middle East, Europe, and the Caribbean are already actively engaged. Such programs typically offer foreigners the right to reside in exchange for investments in real estate, businesses, funds, government securities, or strategic sectors.
For Lebanon, launching such a program is of particular importance. Since 2019, the country has been experiencing one of the most severe financial and economic crises in its history: the banking system has restricted depositors’ access to their funds, the national currency has sharply depreciated, and public finances remain under pressure.
Under these circumstances, the “golden visa” is viewed as a tool for attracting foreign capital without immediately increasing the debt burden. The potential impact could manifest in investments in real estate, tourism, services, infrastructure, private healthcare, education, and technology projects.
However, this model also carries risks. For Lebanon’s program to be effective, it requires transparent rules for selecting investors, verification of the origin of funds, a clear list of permitted sectors, safeguards against speculative investments, and oversight to ensure that investments actually contribute to the economy rather than merely granting a formal right of residence.
International experience shows that “golden visas” can quickly attract capital, but under conditions of weak regulation, they become a source of reputational, tax, and financial risks. Therefore, for Lebanon, the key issue will not be the launch of the program itself, but the quality of its administration.
If the program is implemented transparently, it could become one of the additional channels for restoring confidence in the Lebanese economy. However, it will not be able to replace comprehensive structural reforms, stabilization of the banking system, and political predictability.
According to analysts of the Fixygen.ua project, the cryptocurrency market ended the first week of June lower: Bitcoin fell below $60,000 and updated its lows since autumn 2024, Ethereum declined to the $1,550-1,650 zone, while the largest altcoins remained under pressure due to weak demand for risk.
As of June 8, Bitcoin is trading at around $61,800, Ethereum at around $1,630, and Solana at around $64.7. Despite a local rebound at the beginning of the new week, the market remains in a weak position after one of the toughest weeks of 2026.
The main pressure factor was outflows from cryptocurrency investment products. According to CoinShares, in the week to June 1, digital assets recorded outflows of $1.67 billion, marking the third consecutive week of negative dynamics and the second-largest weekly outflow in 2026. Investors withdrew $1.438 billion from Bitcoin products – the largest weekly BTC outflow since the beginning of the year – and $257 million from Ethereum products.
Pressure continued in early June. According to Farside Investors, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs showed net outflows of $483.8 million on June 1, $519.1 million on June 2, and $396.6 million on June 3. Only on June 4 were the funds able to move slightly into positive territory – around $3.2 million.
The weakness of ETFs became a signal that institutional demand for crypto assets remains limited. After strong growth in previous years, investors are taking profits, reducing exposure to high-risk assets and reallocating capital to more understandable themes, primarily shares of companies related to artificial intelligence, data centers and semiconductors.
An additional negative factor was news of the sale of part of its bitcoins by Strategy, the company associated with Michael Saylor. Although the sale volume was small compared with the company’s overall portfolio, the very fact of the first BTC sale in several years was perceived by the market as a psychologically negative signal.
Against this background, Bitcoin lost more than 10% over the week and briefly fell below the important $60,000 level. For some traders, this confirmed that the market had entered a phase of deep correction after a period of high liquidity and strong institutional interest.
Ethereum also came under pressure. Weak flows into ETH ETFs and the overall decline in risk appetite did not allow the largest altcoin to stay above $1,800. During the week, ETH declined to the $1,550 zone, after which it partially recovered.
Altcoins as a whole looked weaker than Bitcoin. Solana, XRP, Cardano and other major tokens declined amid reduced liquidity, growing investor caution and declining interest in riskier market segments. In such periods, capital usually concentrates in BTC and stablecoins, while altcoins face stronger pressure.
The macroeconomic backdrop also did not support the crypto market. Investors continue to assess the outlook for U.S. interest rates, inflation dynamics and the resilience of the stock market. As long as expectations for rate cuts remain uncertain, it is difficult for cryptocurrencies to gain a sustained recovery impulse.
Regulation remains a separate factor. The market is waiting for progress on U.S. bills on the structure of the crypto market and stablecoins, but the lack of quick clarity is reducing interest among some institutional investors. Without regulatory progress, crypto assets remain more dependent on ETF flows and overall market liquidity.
Despite the weak week, there are still no signs of panic comparable to the crises of 2022. The market has become more institutional, while liquidity is partly supported by ETFs, stablecoins and large market makers. However, the current dynamics show that the launch of ETFs has not eliminated the cyclicality of the market and has not protected Bitcoin from sharp corrections.
Next week, the key factors for the crypto market will be flows into Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, the dynamics of the U.S. stock market, expectations for Fed rates, news on Strategy and regulatory signals from Washington. For Bitcoin, the nearest important zone remains the $60,000-62,000 range; losing it could increase pressure on the market, while a return above $65,000 could become the first sign of stabilization.
The cryptocurrency market remains one of the most volatile segments of global finance. Bitcoin and Ethereum retain the status of the largest digital assets, but their dynamics are increasingly dependent on institutional flows, ETFs, macroeconomic expectations and competition for capital with other investment themes, primarily the AI sector.
According to Fixygen, the cryptocurrency market is ending the week in a mode of cautious consolidation: Bitcoin is holding near $76,000, Ethereum is around $2,100, and investors are assessing outflows from spot ETFs, macroeconomic risks, and the prospects for digital asset regulation in the U.S.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading around $76,300, and Ethereum around $2,087. Daily price action remained moderately positive following a dip earlier in the week, though the market has yet to return to sustained growth.
Outflows from cryptocurrency ETFs put pressure on the market throughout the week. According to industry reports, spot BTC ETFs in the U.S. recorded significant net outflows, and Ethereum ETFs were also under pressure. Amber Group noted that ETF flows for BTC and ETH shifted to outflows, reflecting more cautious investor sentiment.
WSJ Market Talk painted a similar picture: nearly $1.7 billion flowed out of Bitcoin ETFs over five days, while long-term Bitcoin holders did not exhibit significant selling pressure. Ethereum, according to this review, remained noticeably below its May peak amid sustained outflows from ETH ETFs.
At the start of the week, Bitcoin fell to a more than two-week low, dropping to around $76,000 amid a stock market pullback and rising yields. MarketWatch noted that on May 18, BTC lost about 2.5%, and the intraday low was the lowest since late April.
However, the market partially recovered by the end of the week. The Economic Times attributed Bitcoin’s rebound to $78,000 to improved sentiment following Nvidia’s strong earnings report and stabilizing buyer demand. However, BTC has not yet managed to hold above this level.
According to CoinGecko, the total market capitalization of the crypto market is approximately $2.64 trillion, with Bitcoin’s market cap at around $1.54 trillion and its market share at approximately 58.1%. This indicates that the market remains in a phase of BTC dominance, and a full-scale rotation of capital into altcoins has not yet occurred.
CoinMarketCap also indicates “Bitcoin Season” mode: the altseason index stands at around 37 out of 100, confirming Bitcoin’s dominance over most altcoins. Among the largest coins, BTC, ETH, BNB, Solana, and XRP were rising at the time, though the momentum remained more corrective than impulsive.
For the coming week, the $75,000–$78,000 range remains the key technical benchmark for Bitcoin. Holding above $75,000 could maintain a sideways consolidation scenario with attempts to return to $78,000–$80,000. A break below this level would increase the risk of a move toward lower support levels. For Ethereum, the $2,000–$2,150 range remains important: the weakness of the ETH-ETF and the lack of strong rotation into altcoins limit the potential for a rapid recovery.
The medium-term outlook remains ambiguous. On the one hand, the market is supported by institutional interest, limited BTC supply, and Bitcoin’s unchanged role as the leading crypto asset. On the other hand, outflows from ETFs, uncertainty regarding Fed rates, high correlation with tech stocks, and the weakness of altcoins make the market vulnerable to new corrections.
According to Serbian Economist, after several years of low activity among foreign buyers, Hungary’s real estate market may be entering a phase of renewed interest from foreign capital.
According to experts, the Hungarian market has long been operating below its potential: after four years of stagnation, foreign investors have largely ceded ground to domestic buyers. Now analysts expect that a combination of political changes, potential reforms, and pent-up demand could bring Hungary back into the spotlight for international investors.
An additional factor is the expectation of an improved investment climate and the potential release of European funding. Property Forum notes that market participants are discussing a “restart” of the Hungarian real estate market following the April 2026 elections, with macroeconomic stability, regulation, and the willingness of institutional investors to return to the country remaining key issues.
At the same time, the market has already gone through a period of significant price growth. According to Global Property Guide, citing the Hungarian National Bank’s housing price index, housing in Hungary rose by 21.29% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025, or by 16.29% in real terms, indicating strong price momentum even before the full return of foreign demand.
In 2026, the market appears more balanced. According to data from Duna House cited by International Investment, approximately 78% of transactions are concluded below the initial asking price, indicating a strengthening of buyers’ bargaining power and the market’s transition from overheating to a more stable phase.
Budapest remains the main center of interest. The capital combines high rental demand, developed infrastructure, tourist traffic, and its status as the country’s business hub. However, it is in Budapest that authorities are also discussing restrictions on short-term rentals: earlier, one of the city’s central districts voted to ban short-term rentals starting in 2026, which could alter the investment model for some buyers.
For foreign investors, Hungary retains several advantages: prices are lower than in most Western European capitals, the market is part of the EU, and the weakening of the forint may make purchases more attractive to buyers with capital in euros or dollars. At the same time, the risks remain significant: rental regulations, high inflation in recent years, political uncertainty, and the market’s dependence on state support and credit conditions.
The return of foreign capital could support prices, especially in Budapest and other liquid locations. However, for local buyers, this could exacerbate the housing affordability problem, which has already become one of the key social issues in Hungary. The government has previously launched first-home support programs, including subsidized loans at 3% for up to 25 years, to help young buyers enter the market.
Thus, the Hungarian real estate market enters 2026 in a mixed state: prices have already risen significantly, demand has become more cautious, but expectations of political and economic changes may once again attract foreign investors. For the market, this means a likely uptick in transactions, and for buyers—the need to more carefully evaluate location, rental models, and regulatory risks.
Over the past three years, Turkish investors have invested approximately EUR614 million in Greek real estate, significantly strengthening their presence in the housing market of their neighboring country. According to experts, the main motivation for buyers from Turkey has been the desire to protect their capital from high inflation, currency fluctuations, and domestic economic uncertainty. For them, Greek real estate serves not only as an investment asset but also as a way to gain access to the European residency program.
An additional factor is the Golden Visa program, which allows citizens of non-EU countries to obtain a residence permit in Greece through investment. Depending on the property and region, the minimum investment threshold ranges from EUR250,000 to EUR800,000, and the residence permit itself is issued for five years with the possibility of renewal provided the investment is maintained.
The growth in interest from Turkish buyers is particularly noticeable against the backdrop of an overall decline in foreign investment in Greek real estate. According to the Bank of Greece, foreign investment in this sector fell by 22% in 2025—to EUR2.05 billion, down from EUR2.75 billion the previous year. Despite the decline, 2025 remained one of the strongest years for the market in terms of foreign capital inflows.
For Greece, Turkish demand has a dual effect. On the one hand, it supports developers, the secondary housing market, and investments in tourist areas. On the other hand, it increases pressure on prices, especially in Athens, Thessaloniki, on the islands, and in coastal locations, where supply is limited and local residents are already facing housing affordability issues.
Turkish investors’ interest is also linked to geographical proximity. Greece is perceived as a familiar and relatively close market: tourism and business ties are developing between the countries, and the Greek islands remain a popular destination for Turkish citizens. Reuters previously reported that Greece had extended a simplified visa regime for Turkish citizens to a number of Aegean islands, which further bolstered ties between the two markets.
In the near future, Turkish capital is likely to continue playing a significant role in the Greek market.
