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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.
Alemania Economia

In Europe 27th August 2025

Declining global interest in German vehicles shifts German government’s focus to country’s role as military power in Europe

Intermoney | Not everything in Germany is a problem of US commercial aggression. According to the Bundesbank, the German economy could have grown by 50% more between 2021 and 2024 if its export industries had not been held back by problems such as labour shortages and bureaucracy. The central bank’s simulation suggests that German GDP would have expanded by 2.4 percentage points more during the period if exports had kept…

telefonica edificio

Relevant News Item 27th August 2025

Telefónica’s main shareholders back Vodafone Spain deal, cornerstone of new strategic plan

Alphavalue / Divacons | Telefónica chairman Marc Murtra has reportedly secured the support of the company’s main shareholders to buy Vodafone’s Spanish subsidiary. The agreement is reportedly backed by the state-owned holding company SEPI, Saudi Arabia’s STC and CriteriaCaixa, according to its website. The acquisition would be the cornerstone of Telefónica’s new strategic plan. Murtra met with Manuel de la Rocha, chief economic advisor to President Pedro Sánchez, as well…

pensiones playita

In Spain 27th August 2025

Pension spending hits record €13.621 billion (up 6.2%) in August, with average pension of €1,507.5/month (up 4.4%)

In August of this year, Social Security allocated a record €13,620.8 million to the payment of the regular monthly payroll for contributory pensions, an increase of 6.2% compared to the same month in 2024, as reported this Tuesday by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration. In total, Social Security paid 10,374,297 pensions in August, 1.6% more than in the same month of 2024, reaching more than 9.38 million…

hoteles espana

In Spain 27th August 2025

Overnight hotel stays in Spain consolidate with an annual increase of 1.8% in July and prices up 5%

Alphavalue / Divacons | The Spanish hotel sector continued to consolidate its recovery in July. Overnight stays increased by 1.8% year-on-year and prices rose by 5% compared to July 2024. According to the INE, the average turnover per occupied room was €146.5, 4.6% more than in the same month last year. By country of origin, it is worth noting that in July, travellers from the United Kingdom and Germany accounted…

oryzon

In Europe 27th August 2025

EMA authorises “Restore”, Oryzon Genomics’ Phase Ib clinical trial on iadademstat in sickle cell anaemia (SCA)

Alphavalue / Divacons | The Spanish biopharmaceutical company has received authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to initiate a Phase Ib clinical trial of iadademstat in sickle cell anaemia (SCA). This is the first clinical trial to investigate iadademstat in a non-malignant haematological indication. The study, called “Restore”, will be conducted at several centres in Spain and will recruit 40 adult patients. The main objectives of the trial are…

alemania germany ZEW

European economy 26th August 2025

Germany’s GDP grows 0.2% year-on-year in 2Q25 compared to 0.3% in previous quarter, and below consensus estimate of 0.4%

Link Securities | According to the final reading of the data released by the German Federal Statistical Office, Destatis, Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.3% in 2Q25 compared to the previous quarter, more than the 0.1% contraction initially estimated, which was in line with the consensus of FactSet analysts. In 1Q25, Germany’s GDP had grown by 0.3% in quarterly terms. The decline in 2Q25 is the sharpest quarterly…

BCE Lagarde junio2025

In Europe 26th August 2025

Lagarde at Jackson Hole says that immigration has contributed to 50% of European labour market growth over last three years

Bankinter | Lagarde in Jackson Hole. The main messages from the ECB President were: (i) Growth and inflation. She was optimistic about a ‘soft landing’ for the economy thanks to the strength of the labour market and the relaxation of monetary policy conditions. On inflation, she noted that upward pressures still exist, although she expects it to remain anchored close to its inflation target, mainly due to wage moderation in…

Intel

In the World 26th August 2025

US government to take 10% stake in Intel after Japan’s Softbank announces $2 billion investment in chipmaker

Bankinter | After Japanese company Softbank announced that it will invest $2 billion in chip manufacturer Intel, it has been confirmed that the US government will acquire a 10% stake in the company with an valuation of $1 billion. The transaction will be carried out by converting grants awarded under the previous Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act into equity capital. In recent years, Intel has suffered declining sales and…

congreso diputados1

In Spain 26th August 2025

Government: no budget and over 40 laws stalled due to lack of parliamentary support

The Congress will have to vote on more than forty bills this coming session. These are important laws for the executive branch, ranging from the reduction of the working day to the response to tariffs, and evictions for vulnerable families… all while the 2026 General State Budgets—Spain is currently operating with the 2023 budget from the previous legislature—remain up in the air. Support from Congress for the 44 bills currently…

caf1CM

In Europe, Relevant News Item 25th August 2025

Alstom appeals selection of CAF to renew Belgium’s train fleet again, despite national operator’s decision to continue process

Norbolsa | Alstom is again appealing the tender for the Belgian SNBC contract despite the operator’s decision to continue with the process (still unsigned). The Council of State (administrative court) has set a hearing for 29 August, at which Alstom will face SNBC. The appointment of CAF to renew the Belgian fleet, a project with an assessed value of between €1.7 billion and €3.5 billion, prompted Alstom, which has two…