STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-C.Suisse upgrades Greek equities

Credit Suisse upgrades Greek equities to "benchmark" from "underweight", citing cheap equity valuations and a range of supportive macroeconomic factors.

The broker points to a projected cyclically adjusted budget surplus in 2011; the lowest private sector debt-to-GDP ratio in Europe; an already pessimistic economic growth forecast; low leverage in Greek banks; and a good chance the maturity of Athens' EU/IMF financial aid package will be extended.

Greece's leading share index .ATG is up 3.5 percent on Tuesday after gaining 12.7 percent last month. The index lost nearly 36 percent last year on concerns over its ability to finance itself sustainably.

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