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.
IturbeTCbaja

“The City and Wall Street dished out an unreasonable level of punishment to the euro”

MADRID | April 1, 2015 | By Fernando Barciela | The Corner caught up with Luis Iturbe, a board member with Spanish insurance giant, Mapfre. He emphasises the improving health of the Spanish banking sector, but says that the capital increases by lenders, notably Santander, have prevented the Spanish stock market to reach the same revaluations as its peers. He also states that markets in London and New York dished out an unreasonable level of punishment to the euro and Greece.


Investors

Bankinter: Spain’s Ibex to reach 12,878 points (+12%) in 2015

The Corner | March 30, 2015 | While much of the attention is focused on bonds, it should also be noted that stocks and real estate market are also worth more. How much? Bankinter analysts forecast that Spain’s Ibex will reach 12,878 points (potential + 12%) in 2015; EuroStoxx50, 4,338 (+ 18%); S&P 500, 2,333 (+ 10%). The Japanese Nikkei remains the least attractive option at 20.305 (+ 4%).


Basel III monitoring exercise in 4 charts

EBA on Basel III Monitoring Exercise

BBVA Reasearch | March 31, 2015 | The EBA (at European level) and the BCBS (at global level) both published their 7th Basel III Monitoring Report on March 3rd, using data as of June 2014. Overall, the trend towards enhancing the resilience of banks’ balance sheets is underpinned. Indeed, there has been an improvement in all the three pillars of the new prudential framework: capital, leverage and liquidity. The EBA estimates a capital shortfall of EUR2.8bn for a 7% CET1 of Group 1 banks, which means a decrease of 75% compared with the previous publication. 


Demanda domestica1TC

Retail sales show improvement in Germany and Spain

The Corner | March 31, 2015 | German and Spanish retail sales have improved markedly compared with this time last year. Unemployment figures for the euro zone are expected to fall slightly, while results of EU inflation figures will be keenly monitored in the wake of the ECB’s sovereign bond purchasing programme, launched earlier this month.




TLAC proposed calendar in 2015

TLAC next steps: Quantitative Impact Study

BBVA Research | March 30, 2015 | The TLAC’s public consultation period ended on 2nd February. Now is the time for carrying out a comprehensive Quantitative Impact Study (QIS) to define the optimal calibration of the TLAC. The FSB will assess the potential impacts on financial system, financial stability and the real economy. 


Now Investment

Consumer confidence points to brighter times in EMU

The Corner | March 30, 2015 | Consumer confidence in the EMU is set to hit its highest level in eight years, with economic sentiment improving across the currency block. In Spain, inflation figures are expected to remain in negative territory, but with the caveat that lower prices are having positive knock-on effects elsewhere in the economy.