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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.
Greece and its lenders: Where do you start?

In Europe 9th April 2015

Greece and its lenders: Where do you start?

ATHENS | April 8, 2015 | By Nick Malkoutzis via MacroPolis | Since it was first recorded in 1944 by American public administrator David Lilienthal, the following anecdote has been told many times and in many ways: A traveller asks a local man for directions and, after much thought, the latter turns to the visitor and says: “My friend, I tell you; if I were you, I wouldn’t start from here.” As Greece and the eurozone remain some distance apart on how to conclude their bailout negotiations, it seems a good time to return to this tale.

germany growth

In Europe 9th April 2015

German economy getting stronger

The Corner| April 9, 2015 | Strong figures from German industry will offer further encouragement to EU policymakers that the economic recovery is now on the right track. German industrial production grew by 0.2%, beating expectations of a 0.1% rise. The increase in industry excluding energy and construction was 0.5% according to latest data from the Bundesbank.

oil prices

Companies 8th April 2015

Shell begins M&A race with move for BG

MADRID | April 8, 2015 | By Sean Duffy | The takeover of BG by Royal Dutch Shell for £47 billion (€64.8 billion) could be the opening salvo in a race to hoover up energy firms, as oil giants look to take advantage of a liquidity glut by honing in on companies destabilised by the volatility on oil markets.

Neinver

In Europe 8th April 2015

Drop in Eurozone retail sales amid positive overall demand

The Corner | April 8, 2015 | Retail sales were fell by -0.2% in February after four months of growth, but observers will not be unduly worried following release of data from Markit which indicate that retail sales PMIs rose to their highest level since last November.

germany factory workers

In Europe 8th April 2015

German factory output disappoints

The Corner | April 8,2015 | German factory output disappoints as fears of  slowdown in the U.S and China hit exporters in Europe’s largest economy despite the weakened state of the euro. Elsewhere, retail sales are expected to contract in the euro area having shown gains since the final months of 2014.

No Picture

Spanish economy 7th April 2015

Spanish PMI rebounds

The Corner | April 7, 2015 | Analysis from Barclays | Spanish composite PMIs rebounded to 56.9 (+0.9 point) in March, as services PMI overshot expectations (57.3) and manufacturing output remained broadly stable (55.5). The services sector’s solid performance (PMI at an eight month high) was primarily triggered by stronger new business.

ecb2

In Europe 7th April 2015

Eurozone confidence hits eight year high

The Corner | April 7, 2015 | Although the eurozone PMI  for March was slightly disappointing, confidence reached its highest level since 2007, according to data released on Tuesday.

stress tests

Markets 7th April 2015

European markets reopen

The Corner | April 7, 2015 | European markets reopen this morning, with three areas of specific interest likely to dominate events on trading floors. The first, will be the continued wrangling between Greece and its creditors, with hopes for a deal becoming increasingly slim as the acrimony between the various parties seemingly increased over the weekend. On Wall Street, quarterly results presentations will commence, while traders will also be closely monitoring a swathe of data which may offer an insight as to the future direction of the Fed’s monetary policy.

Ice Age the movie

Markets 6th April 2015

Negative rates: Ice age for savers

Asoka Wöhrmann (Deutsche AWM) | Negative interest rates are new economic territory. However, as yet, there is no sign of a major cash exodus to avoid sub-zero yields.