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Articles by Fernando Gonzalez Urbaneja

About the Author

Fernando Gonzalez Urbaneja
Over 30 years working in economic journalism. Fernando was founder and chief-editor at El País, general editor at the business daily Cinco Días, and now teaches at Universidad Carlos III. He's been president of the Madrid Press Association and the Spanish Federation of Press Associations. He's also member of the Spanish press complaints commission.
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Spanish economy 24th December 2013

Banesco challenges hard Spanish banks’ market share

MADRID| By Fernando González Urbaneja| The Spanish banking industry has a very solid position and it is not easy to win market share from it. Citi, Barclays, BNP, all of them with commercial experience and financial muscle failed in the attempt. Now it is the turn of Venezuelan Banesco, which has just acquired Spanish bank NovaCaixaGalicia (NCG), stemmed from the country’s financial system restructuring and intervened by the state since October 2011, at €1.000 million.

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In Europe 13th December 2013

When Catalonia Becomes a Risk in the Horizon

MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | Catalonia government has put a date (November 9, 2014) to a secessionist referendum. The independence movement has overcome another obstacle to approach its final goal. Those who argue they are tactical moves to modify the financial model are running out of arguments, for this is something much more important that affects Spain. Its consequences are unpredictable, and catastrophic from any point of view. [Video: Euronews]

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Spanish economy 6th December 2013

Corruption ranks second in Spaniards’ worries

MADRID| Fernando G. Urbaneja| Spanish leaders try to diminish the importance of corruption in the country’s political sphere. They say it is not a general practice, that cases in the public eye are manageable exceptions. But citizens do not seem to agree.

EU has resigned to mediocrity

In Europe 22nd November 2013

EU has resigned to mediocrity

MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | The present crisis is punishing the Europeans more than anyone else, although Germany is quite well. However, the scarce economic growth, high unemployment rates, and questionable living conditions of the society lead to think that the EU has resigned to mediocrity.

Banking stress tests

In Europe 19th November 2013

Will banking go well in a stagnant economy?

MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | There is a problem with the European stress tests: they focus on solvency but forget about profitability, which is essential for the future of banks. The system doesn’t work properly and in a context of stagnant economy, banking faces a difficult future.

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In Europe 8th November 2013

What are the ECB and Draghi Scared Of?

MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | In a surprising move, the European Central Bank cut interest rates on Thursday. This is just a sign of the multiple fears shared by the institution and Mr Draghi: the ghost of deflation, the need for credit or the European prices and asset inflation. But both Mr Draghi and the ECB’s credibility have been boosted lately. What are they scared of then?

[Video by FT: “Is Europe getting deflated?”]

In Europe 29th October 2013

The Cliché of Working Longer Hours in Spain

MADRID | By Fernando G Urbaneja | Jeroen Dijsselbloem is happy because Spain is doing its homework, but he warns that there is still a lot to do. “Working harder and longer” is his motto, although he doesn’t seem to know how eager the Spanish unemployed are to find a job. And extending the age of retirement doesn’t look like the best option.

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Spanish economy 14th October 2013

Ibex 35 (and all Southern stock exchanges) goes upwards

MADRID | By Fernando G Urbaneja | The Spanish stock exchange has regained interest for both domestic and international investors. Despite the uncertainties, the South European markets look now more attractive and have shown a positive behaviour in the last months.

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Spanish economy 8th October 2013

Spanish Rating Deserves One Notch Improvement

MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | The International Monetary Fund forecasts of economic growth may convince rating agencies and market watchers, who might change their negative previsions about Spain into positive ones. For its part, the government should actively work towards one notch improvement of the Spanish rating.