Qatari fund eyes stake in Greek lender

The Qatar Investment Authority is considering taking a strategic stake in National Bank of Greece, the country's biggest lender, according to people familiar with the talks.

The Gulf state's sovereign wealth fund, via its unit Qatar Holding, was examining taking about 5-7 per cent of NBG, equivalent to about €250m ($305m), in line with an investment policy of buying stakes below 10 per cent in financial institutions, they said.

The acquisition, if it goes ahead, would help to boost confidence in the Greek banking system, which is under pressure as a result of the country's ongoing sovereign debt crisis.