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Articles by The Corner

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The Corner
The Corner has a team of on-the-ground reporters in capital cities ranging from New York to Beijing. Their stories are edited by the teams at the Spanish magazine Consejeros (for members of companies’ boards of directors) and at the stock market news site Consenso Del Mercado (market consensus). They have worked in economics and communication for over 25 years.
SantanderUK

Companies 2nd February 2026

Banco Santander to close 44 UK branches and provide services from other branches or through “banking hub”

Link Securities | Yesterday morning, the bank announced the closure of 44 branches in the United Kingdom as part of its strategy to adapt its network to demand, which is shifting towards greater use of digital platforms while customer footfall in branches continues to decline. In addition, 291 people will be affected, although some will be offered redeployment in jobs with different profiles. The bank has explained that the closures…

OHLA Canalejas

Companies 2nd February 2026

OHLA and Mohari split Centro Canalejas: construction company takes car park, shopping centre and €45 million debt, Israeli fund gets Four Seasons Hotel

Intermoney | The company (Buy, PO €0.7) announced on Friday after the market closed an agreement with Mohari to share the assets and liabilities of the Canalejas Centre. The construction company will retain the car park and shopping centre, along with an associated debt of €45 million, while Mohari, the investment platform of Israeli businessman Mark Scheinberg, will take over the Four Seasons Hotel. The centre as a whole had…

Eurozona IPC 1

European economy, In Europe 2nd February 2026

Eurozone growth loses momentum in Q4 2025, but unemployment rate returns to historic lows

Bankinter | Growth lost momentum in Q4 2025, as expected, but the unemployment rate returned to historic lows in December. Preliminary GDP was up 1.3% year-on-year in Q4 2025, in line with expectations and compared to 1.4% previously. The unemployment rate was 6.2% in December, compared to the estimated and previous rate of 6.3%. Bankinter analysis team’s view: European growth continues to be led by the peripheral countries. Spain and…

Italia fachadas

In Europe 2nd February 2026

S&P confirms Italy’s rating at BBB+ and upgrades outlook to positive from stable

Bankinter | S&P has confirmed the country’s rating at BBB+ and upgraded its outlook to positive from stable. Bankinter analysis team’s view: Positive news, although expected. Last November, Moody’s decided to raise the country’s rating to Baa2 from Baa3, with a stable outlook. S&P highlights that the country has achieved a current account surplus despite tariff uncertainty and has managed to improve its credit profile. Italy ended 2024 with a…

Repsol

Companies, Relevant News Item 2nd February 2026

US Treasury authorises Repsol and ENI to collect PDVSA’s accumulated debt, estimated at around $6 billion

Alphavalue/Divacons | The new general licence issued by the US Treasury authorises ENI (Reduce, Target Price €18.4/share) and Repsol to collect PDVSA’s accumulated debt, estimated at around $6 billion, through the exchange of Venezuelan heavy crude oil for fuels. After producing gas without receiving direct payments, this measure re-establishes a crucial channel for value recovery, albeit under a stricter US regulatory framework that prohibits the use of Chinese-controlled infrastructure. Given…

Iberia

Companies 2nd February 2026

Iberia (IAG) plans to increase seating capacity by 7.6% in 2026 on long-haul routes to America

Link Securities | Iberia (IAG) plans to increase seating capacity by 7.6% in 2026 on its long-haul routes to America to take advantage of growing demand and strengthen its leadership in this corridor from Barajas, in contrast to the growth plans of Air Europa and other rivals, according to a report published on Monday by Expansión. In total, there will be 7.68 million seats, compared to 7.13 million in 2025,…

Closed

Spanish economy 2nd February 2026

77% of companies created this century no longer exist

Four out of every ten companies created in 2019—the year prior to the pandemic—failed to endure and were forced to close their doors. This percentage is still far from the “bloodbath” of the Great Recession: 73% of those set up in 2007, the year before the first major crisis of the 21st century, have disappeared. This is according to the latest report by Iberinform, which confirms that “business survival in…

Telefonica central

Companies 30th January 2026

Telefónica to be first company to offer 5G and IoT capabilities to industrial sector through collaboration with Siemens Xcelerator initiative

Link Securities | The company becomes Siemens’ (SIE-DE) first partner to provide 5G and IoT technology to industry through its Siemens Xcelerator initiative, a technology solutions platform that offers the world’s most advanced ecosystem of products, solutions and services for the industrial sector, with a special focus on infrastructure and logistics transport, according to the digital portal Bolsamania.com. Siemens Xcelerator is a technology platform that facilitates collaboration and drives open…

ArcelorMittal renove

Companies 30th January 2026

ArcelorMittal Q4 25 results preview: profit of $473 million, with focus on regulatory changes on imports in Europe

Renta 4 | The company will publish its Q4 2025 results on Thursday, 5 February, before the market opens, and will hold a conference at 3:30 p.m. P.O. We expect shipments to increase by 1% compared to Q3 2025 (North America down 1% , Brazil up 2% and Europe down 4%) and prices to fall by 6% compared to Q3 2025 (North America down 13%, Brazil down 2% and Europe…

Neinor nuevo

Companies 30th January 2026

Acceptance period for Neinor’s Aedas takeover bid begins, at €24 per share

Banc Sabadell | The National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) board has approved Neinor Homes’ (HOME) mandatory takeover bid for Aedas Homes (AEDAS) (‘the second takeover bid’). It considers the price to be fair. We note that Neinor is offering €24.00 per share in cash in an offer for the 20.80% of Aedas shares it does not already own. The acceptance period will run from 30 January to 27 February, inclusive….