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Articles by Ana Fuentes

About the Author

Ana Fuentes
Columnist for El País and a contributor to SER (Sociedad Española de Radiodifusión), was the first editor-in-chief of The Corner. Currently based in Madrid, she has been a correspondent in New York, Beijing and Paris for several international media outlets such as Prisa Radio, Radio Netherlands or CNN en español. Ana holds a degree in Journalism from the Complutense University in Madrid and the Sorbonne University in Paris, and a Master's in Journalism from Spanish newspaper El País.
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World economy 7th January 2014

Panama Canal and Sacyr-led consortium, closer to a deal

The Corner Team | The Panama Canal Authority and the  building consortium Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), led by Spanish construction company Sacyr, have both agreed to put up at at least $100 million each to keep the canal work running. The big question remains who should pay for $1.6 billion in cost overruns. GUPC has asked the canal administrator for a $400 million advance. Some Spanish analysts believe they’ll reach an intermediate agreement, in which the Panamanian Government covers half of the costs (circa $800 million), although the consortium would have to sacrifice some profit margin. The Spanish government insists they will not give money “in any case”.

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Interviews 6th January 2014

TetraLogic CEO: Obamacare May Impact Drug Industry in Long Term

NEW YORK | By Ana Fuentes | In some countries like India or Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical companies face a crucial year. What about the U.S.? Will the Obamacare, for example, impact them in any way? Kevin Buchi, CEO of TetraLogic, a mid-sized pharma that just went public and is focused on small molecule drugs against cancer, among others, tells us about the investors’ fears.

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World economy 31st December 2013

A 2014 World News Tour by The Corner

As 2013 wraps up, we are looking at the most interesting economic stories and challenges ahead. We have asked our contributors and some of the best bloggers worldwide to tell us. Enjoy the read and happy new year.

 

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World economy 24th December 2013

“People Who Look at Our Companies Have to See the Future” (Steven J. Mento, CEO of Conatus Pharmaceuticals)

NEW YORK | By Ana Fuentes | For Conatus Pharmaceuticals’ CEO Steven J. Mento, starting a company was “the only way to go”. This mid-sized biotech company just listed on Nasdaq market place with clinical trials in the U.S. and Europe believes they can do some things better than the big guys in their sector. He speaks with The Corner about investment opportunities and today’s economic challenges.

 

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Markets 17th December 2013

To Taper or Not to Taper

NEW YORK | By Ana Fuentes | As the Fed begins its last meeting of the year, the question is making big headlines and debates in the U.S. this week: Will the central bank start to wind down its $85 billion a month in asset purchases before or after March? The majority of economists were not expecting the Federal Reserve to leave QE before March. But the good data coming from China, the U.S. and Europe might be a game changer. [Video: CMC Markets]

 

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World economy 17th December 2013

It’s Not Only About the Minimum Wage

NEW YORK | By Ana Fuentes | The debate about the minimum wage is making big headlines both in the U.S. and in Europe, although for very different reasons. In Washington, the main issue is whether to raise it, since at $7.25 per hour the richest country in the world pays less per hour to many other developed countries.In Europe, Germany has joined the minimum wage club as one of the highlights of the coalition agreement, and France is increasing it by 1.1 per cent. In Spain the minimum wage was frozen two years ago due to austerity measures, and today minimum wage workers are struggling to make ends meet. Still, they can still enjoy free health insurance, education or a paid vacation, something that their American counterparts cannot even dream of.

 

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In Europe 12th December 2013

Eurozone’s Job Gains Show A Turning Point

NEW YORK | By Ana Fuentes | While the unemployment rate increased in Japan and the U.S. in October, it declined in the eurozone for the first time in nearly three years, the Conference Board International Labor Comparisons (ILC) pointed out on Thursday. The sign that the Old Continent might be reaching a turning point at last, reckoned an expert of the organization based in New York. But not that fast- isn’t youth unemployment still at 24.4 per cent?

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World economy 4th December 2013

BlindSide: The First Invisible Video Game

NEW YORK | By Ana Fuentes | What if a video game only contained audio? Blind Side is the first ever to set players in a fully 3D ambiance without graphics. Inspired by co-creator Aaron Rasmussen’s temporary blindness after an accident in chemistry class, the start up is the adventure of two young game lovers who got their funding via Kickstarter. Their potential market is huge: 33 million gamers in the U.S. have some kind of disability, according to the Able Gamers Foundation.

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World economy 3rd December 2013

Minimum Wage: The U.S. Close to The World’s Lowest

NEW YORK | By Ana Fuentes | The planned strike of fast-food workers in 100 cities on Thursday has stirred the debate about the minimum wage, which is among the lowest in all OECD countries. America is a much richer country today than 30 years ago, although the inflation-adjusted wages of nonsupervisory workers in retail trade have fallen almost 30 percent since the 70s. Underpaid jobs seem to be the new normal, many economists are warning.