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.
Reino Unido economia

In Europe 29th March 2025

UK increases defence budget but cuts spending in face of lower growth prospects

BancaMarch | The budget watchdog cut GDP forecasts for 2025 to just +1%, down from an initial +2%. In a scenario of greater economic weakness and rising borrowing costs, the British finance minister, Rachel Reeves, updated the budget in the face of the threat of breaching fiscal rules. The debt markets seemed to welcome the emphasis on fiscal responsibility. The measures involve cuts of up to £14 billion by 2029-2030….

GLOBALDEBT

In the World 28th March 2025

Global debt issuance reached new high in 2024

Círculo de Empresarios | According to the OECD, in 2024 global debt issuance surpassed $25 trillion, while the global stock of debt exceeded $100 trillion. Following a brief pause during the pandemic, the global debt-to-GDP ratio has recovered its upward trend. More than half of OECD-sovereign and global corporate debt is currently paying interest costs below the prevailing market rates

sanchez elections

In Spain 28th March 2025

Public spending up €230 billion since Sánchez took office, now exceeds €700 billion

The year 2024 ended with consolidated public spending exceeding €700 billion. The final figure, which was revealed this Thursday, amounts to €722.846 billion, an absolute record in history. This fabulous amount is about €230 billion higher than the same concept in 2018, the year Pedro Sánchez came to power as Prime Minister after winning a vote of no confidence against Mariano Rajoy, explains La Razón newspaper. The accounts for 2024…

bbvasabadell

Relevant News Item 28th March 2025

Competition authority proposes new commitments to BBVA in Sabadell takeover bid

Link Securities | The Spanish National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) board, which met last Monday, has asked BBVA to make new commitments in its takeover bid for Banco Sabadell, mainly in relation to the SME business and financial inclusion issues, according to Expansión newspaper. The CNMC has suggested that BBVA extend the deadlines for the proposed measures on the SME business. The regulator’s experts believe that an 18-month…

Naturgy Australia

Relevant News Item 27th March 2025

Taqa negotiates entry into Naturgy’s shareholding structure with stake of up to 29.9%, no takeover bid, and hand in hand with CriteriaCaixa

Bankinter | The energy giant Taqa, controlled by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is studying the possibility of acquiring a stake in Naturgy. According to articles that have appeared in the press, Taqa would enter with a non-majority shareholding, hand in hand with CriteriaCaixa and with the approval of the Government, which has the right of veto over this type of strategic operation. At the moment, Naturgy has a self-tender…

Cereals

In Europe 27th March 2025

Timid progress towards peace in Ukraine would ease maritime traffic of agricultural products and fertilisers

Banca March | This weekend’s negotiations in Riyadh have borne fruit. Ukraine and Russia announced on Tuesday that they had finalised the ceasefire agreement on energy infrastructures, to which a truce in hostilities in the Black Sea has been added, which would allow for the streamlining and securing of greater maritime traffic of agricultural products and fertilisers. However, the terms of the agreement are not entirely clear and the Russian…

Spains unemployment problem

Spanish economy 27th March 2025

Ministry of Labour admits 687,884 unemployed not counted

The Minister of Labour, Yolanda Díaz, and her team have spent three years without specifying how many people with fixed-discontinuous contracts are registered in the public employment service offices, arguing that the registration of job seekers is the responsibility of the autonomous communities. However, despite this opacity, the statistical services of the department do handle and even publish these figures. Thus, they estimate that in 2024, the number of people…

repsolrenovables

Spanish economy 27th March 2025

Repsol sells 49% of 400 MW renewables to Schroders Greencoat

Repsol has partnered with Schroders Greencoat, a manager specialized in renewable infrastructure from Schroders Capital, which enters as a partner with a 49% stake in a wind and solar portfolio of 400 megawatts (MW), valued at €580 million. The portfolio includes eight wind farms, totaling 300 MW, located in Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Additionally, it encompasses two photovoltaic plants totaling 100 MW in Palencia. All assets are expected to be…

EEUU consumidores conference board 1

In the World 26th March 2025

Consumer confidence in US (The Conference Board) falls to four-year low – 92.9 – in March

Bankinter | Consumer Confidence (March) disappoints, moderating to 92.9 against the 94.0 expected and 100.1 previous (revised from 98.3). It is at its lowest level since January 2021 and is the fourth consecutive month of decline. By components: (i) Current Situation: 134.5 versus 138.1 previous (revised from 136.5); (ii) Expectations: 65.2 versus 74.8 previous (revised from 72.9). (ii) Fed Richmond Manufacturing Activity Indicator (March): -4 versus 1 expected and 6…

coches venta

In Europe 26th March 2025

Car sales in Europe fall 3.1% to 963,540 units year-on-year in February, but rise 11% in Spain

Alphavalue / Divacons | In February 2025, passenger car registrations in Europe fell by 3.1% year-on-year to 963,540 units, with declines in all major markets except Spain, where they grew by 11%. Compared to pre-pandemic levels (February 2019), sales are still 16% lower. In terms of technologies, pure electric vehicles (BEVs) grew by 26% year-on-year to reach a market share of 17.1%. Hybrids were the most popular option (with a…