Articles by Francisco López

About the Author

Francisco López
Working for more than 25 years in the world of journalism and communications, Francisco has gained valuable experience at several well-known newspapers such as El Mundo and La Vanguardia. He specialized in economic and financial news before making the leap to the corporate communication sector where he has held several positions: Adviser to the Ministry of Economy, Director of the Bank of Spain’s Communication Department, in addition to his consultancy role at Analistas Financieros Internacionales, where he currently works.
Demanda domestica1TC copia

“Temporary factors” force analysts to revise Spanish GDP forecasts upwards

MADRID | Francisco López | The oil collapse, depreciation of the euro, low interest rates and the reduction of personal income tax are “temporary factors” that will allow the Spanish economy to grow faster than expected, according most analysts. Funcas forecasts that Spanish GDP will grow by 2.4% in 2015, 0.2 higher than their previous estimates.


Europa crisis recursoTC

Eurozone crisis is taking its toll on Spain

MADRID | By Francisco López | Spain is not an oasis inside the Eurozone. The 18 main private research services believe that the slowdown in the European economy is already taking its toll on Spain. Besides, they forecast that  Spanish GDP will grow slower than expected in the last quarter of 2014 (0.4%) versus 0.5% of the third quarter or 0.6% of the second quarter. 


No Picture

Risk of deflation increases after collapse in price of raw materials

MADRID | By Francisco López | The collapse in the price of raw materials in the last number of weeks is good news for consumers, but very bad news in macroeconomic terms because of the heightened risk of deflation in the eurozone. Oil continues to plummet and a barrel of Brent is now priced at $82, 30%, lower than its June level and is currently trading at a four year low.


europa triste lluvia recursoTC

Spanish banks: Expectations get more complicated after eurozone’s slump

MADRID | By Francisco López | The Spanish banks performed well in the latest stress tests. All in all, they achieved acceptable results for the third quarter of 2014. The problem, say the experts, could arise in the  months ahead: the European Commission has drastically reduced its forecasts for the  eurozone’s main economies,and as everybody knows, growth is essential for  banking activity.


No Picture

Further depreciation of the Euro due to poor eurozone data

MADRID | By Francisco López | The latest movements within currency markets function as a gauge of the economic momentum in both Europe and the US. The decline of the Euro against the Dollar has increased in the last few days due to poor macroeconomic data in the eurozone, which is in sharp contrast with the vigour shown by the US (who showed growth of 3.5% in the third quarter of 2014).


cuentas analisis TC

The ECB’s stress tests deserve praise

MADRID | By Francisco López | Market watchers have something in common with journalists: they prefer criticism rather than compliments –as can be seen from the analysis of the European Central Bank’s stress tests. Criticism is growing, even though markets had already envisaged the results and neither the institution nor Mario Draghi is willing to defend the banking examination. 


dollarrollorecorte2

Dollar’s quick appreciation raises questions for markets

MADRID | By Francisco López | The strength of the dollar –which is in maximum levels and has appreciated by almost 11% against the euro since January 2014, has started to cast doubt among market watchers. Some experts consider that such strong appreciation does not correspond to Janet Yellen’s cautious decisions or to the low inflation expectations at a global level, which leaves room to central banks to maintain loose monetary policies. 


No Picture

Markets hurt in the wake of poor EZ figures

MADRID | By Francisco López | Economic confidence dropped again in September to mid-2009 levels highlighting a worsening of the economic malaise in the Eurozone (EZ). The PMI Index fell 1.1 points to 85 points, well below the long term average (100points).


Commodity Indexes

Markets worried over weak global growth

MADRID | By Francisco López | Up to this point, investors had scarcely listened to economists’ warnings about world economic stagnation, but in the last number of days the situation has changed as commodities’ prices dropped, with debt and equity markets beginning to exert some pressure. 


stagnation

A diabolic loop of stagnation

MADRID | By Francisco López |  Spanish banks face into the new era of banking union with their homework successfully completed, both in terms of adjustments and efficiency in the stress tests. Their balance sheets are healthy, although now a new challenge awaits: how to improve profitability in an adverse economic cycle, with rates close to 0% and with credit lending remaining worryingly low.