This report covers the key macroeconomic and financial releases as well as the political events from Albania for the period of October 9 - November 9, 2015. S&P affirmed its ‘B/B’ sovereign credit ratings on Albania. The Tirana court acquitted the former c-bank governor, Ardian Fullani, of charges of abuse of office in connection to a multi-million euro theft from bank reserves. Albania plunged to 97th position in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2016 ranking among 189 countries, from 68th place a year ago. The European Commission and the EBRD cut their forecast for Albanian economic growth in 2015. Albania places €450mn 5-year Eurobond Leyton Orient owner, Francesco Becchetti, could face extradition to Albania Key points: • The CPI inflation decelerates slightly to 2.1% y/y in Oct • Albania's foreign trade gap widened by 0.7% y/y to €1.48bn in the first nine months • The combined net profit of Albanian commercial banks up by 33.3% y/y to €83.5mn in Jan-Sept • Albania's commercial banks' loan portfolio fell 1.8% y/y at end-Sept • The bad loan ratio at Albanian commercial banks stood at 20.2% at end- Sept • Albania’s insurance market grew by 17.3% y/y in the first nine months of 2015