Top Stories

Articles by The Corner

About the Author

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.
investors greece

I.R. Spain 30th October 2020

Corporate Disclosures And Investor Relations ‘Impaired By Covid-19’

The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has posed many challenges for companies, but among the top concerns for audit committees has been corporate disclosures and the relationship with shareholders. After taking care of employees, this has perhaps been one of the most critical issues throughout the crisis. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has stressed the importance of timely disclosures for shareholders to satisfy the needs of investors.

Sacyr Africa

Markets, Spanish economy, Spanish Small & Mid Caps 30th October 2020

Sacyr Divests Its Construction Business In Africa To Focus On Concessions In Its Key Markets

Sacyr’s selling its construction subsidiaries in Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde is part of firm’s strategy to reduce the risk of building in non-strategic markets and to focus on concessions in its key markets. This activity already accounts for nearly 80% of the group’s EBITDA. According to analysts at Alphavalue, Sacyr, with a capitalization of just around €800 M, has been “the most resilient” company in the concessions’ sector during the confinement thanks to the type of contracs it has signed.

euro espana

Spanish economy 30th October 2020

The Eurozone Grows At A Pace Never Seen Before: So Does Spain, But There Is Nothing To Celebrate

The Eurozone economy grew by record high of 12.7% in the third quarter with expansion including the four major countries: Germany by 8.2%, France by 18.2%, Italy by 16.1% and Spain by 16.7%. This rebound reflected the largest increase since statistics started being kept in 1995. Specifically, Spanish historical GDP’s followed a plunge of almost 18% in the previous three months. However, these figures has a sort of bittersweet taste as they coincide with the reintroduction of strict containment measures across the region which are likely to make the expected recovery reverse.

spain tax collection

Spanish economy 30th October 2020

Spain’s Tax Collection Capacity Is Doubtful

Intermoney | The Spanish government’s collection capacity, given that the basic economic scenario is likely to be worse than it has projected, must be questioned. In fact, even taking into account the tax hikes included in the 2021 budget bill, we estimate tax revenues will be around 211 billion euros in 2021. So almost 11 billion euros below budget and this would be equivalent to just under 1% of next year’s GDP. This figure does not include the capacity to fight tax fraud, which is expected to generate 828 million euros.

world naranja

World politics 29th October 2020

What the US Election Means for the Liberal World Order

Vittorio Emanuele Parsi & Valerio Alfonso Bruno | In 1992, Francis Fukuyama published his controversial best-seller, “The End of History and the Last Man,” arguing that liberal democracy is the final form of government for all nations. Almost three decades later, G. John Ikenberry, one of the most influential theorists of liberal internationalism today, in “A World Safe for Democracy” suggests that the liberal world order, if reformed and reimagined, remains possibly the best “international space” for democracies to flourish and prosper. After all, reasons Ikenberry, what do its illiberal challengers like China or Russia have to offer?

Socimis

Spanish economy 29th October 2020

Spanish SOCIMIs Could Suffer A Major Setback With A Tax Burden Of 15%

Even though SOCIMIS have played a leading role in the Spanish real estate market since 2013 , as a result of Covid-19, their market value has dropped to €21.268 Bn, a decline of more than 17% against the end of 2019. In addition, these vehicles have benefited from a tax regime adapted to that of traditional REITs. Now, however, the government could impose a tax burden of 15% on them, which would damage cash flow and increase the risk premium associated with investing in real estate assets in Spain, say Banco Sabadell analysts.

 

Emmanuel Macron

European politics 28th October 2020

Criticism of Macron’s Islam Policy Is Over the Top

The New York Times claims Macron has ordered a “broad government crackdown against Muslim individuals and groups.” The World Socialist Web Site, in a widely retweeted story, accuses Macron of “whipping up … anti-Muslim hysteria.” An American sociologist who researches white supremacists laments that French officials “respond to violent extremism with violent extremism.” What is this “broad crackdown”? Macron’s government has closed a mosque, which was run by a radical imam. A number of arrests have been made. “Anti-Muslim hysteria”? 51 more Islamic organizations are being investigated for alleged extremist sympathies. What about “violent extremism”? There are plans to take away the French passports of 231 foreign-born criminals.