The deficit of Spain´s public administrations was 3.1% of GDP last year, the highest in the European Union, above the 3% registered by Portugal, and followed by Rumania (-2.9%), France (-2.7%) and Italy (-2.4%). This is according to the data published by the European Statistics Office, Eurostat, which has downgraded by two points Spain´s public debt to 98.1% of GDP.
According to the company´s report to the regulator (CNMV), Gestamp had net profits of 163 million euros up to September, which is a 7% increase on the same period in 2017. The company had an income of 6.15 billion euros between January and September, 2.5% more than in the first nine months of last year, and 8.9% at constant currency rate.
Brent oil prices are up more than 30% this year and have reached levels last seen in 2014. BoAML’s team on Commodities have revised up their forecasts; they now expect Brent to peak at $95/bbl by the end of 2Q 2019. They also consider the impact on global growth of an even larger and more sustained oil spike. Specifically discuss the factors that could drive oil prices to $100/bbl, and hash out the winners and losers.
Arek Sinanian | The longer we delay the actions we must take, the more difficult it becomes to avoid the doom and the human and economic costs of adapting to climate change.
Next 26 October S&P will revise its rating on Italy, currently BBB with stable Outlook. It could directly lower the rating one level to BBB-. While we wait for whether this happens or not, another agency, Fitch, has cut Banca Carige’s rating from B- to CCC+ believing that the bank will have difficulties in reinforcing its capital ratios.
Spain’s banking sector lost € 5.560 Bn in market capitalisation yesterday after the country’s Supreme Court decided they woud have to pay mortgages taxes and not the final client. Just 24 hours after, the Court announced they will review the decision. Morgan Stanley calculates that the effect of ruling could reach 12 billion euros.
One of the main characteristics of the recent economic recovery in Portugal has been the surprising progress of the labour market. In fact, between 2014 and 2017, the number of jobs grew by more than 351,000, which represents an average annual growth of 1.9%, slightly higher than the average GDP growth of 1.8% in the same period. CaixaBank Research details the main factors that are contributing to this change.
Merlin Properties, one of the main property companies listed in the Spanish stock market, is studying creating alliances to buy part of the property portfolio of El Corte Inglés, Spain’s biggest retail group, which amounts 94 assets. The value of the portfolio is around €17.2 Bn, of which €15 billion euros are points of sale.
J.L.M. Campuzano (Spanish Banking Association) | The ratio of company debt in Q2 was 94.9% of GDP, and that of families 60.8%. In the case of company debt, the rate falls to 76.3% if inter-company loans are excluded. In both cases, the levels are already close to the European average.