Greece Optimistic Of Bailout Deal Within 10 Days: Reports

Greece is optimistic a reform deal with its international lenders will be sealed by the end of May, just in time for Athens to meet a €300 million payment to the International Monetary Fund on June 5. "We think conditions have matured for (talks) to progress further and in the next 10 days, in May, for the deal to be sealed," government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis said Friday morning according to media reports. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also said he was "optimistic" a deal to unlock bailout funds would be found "soon," the Guardian reported. The upbeat comments came after a meeting last night between Tsipras, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. However, Merkel struck a more cautious tone Friday morning, stressing there is still "a lot to do." Greece is at risk of running out of cash in coming weeks unless it receives the much-needed bailout funds, which are being withheld until the government and international lenders agree on a range of economic overhauls.

Copyright © 2015 MarketWatch, Inc.