In Europe

Italy precious

Fitch raises Italy’s rating from “BBB” to “BBB+” with “stable” outlook, first improvement in country’s credit rating since 2021

Link Securities | Last Friday, credit rating agency Fitch announced that it had raised Italy’s debt rating from “BBB” to “BBB+” with a “stable” outlook. This is the first improvement in the country’s credit rating since 2021. The upward revision of the rating represents international recognition of greater confidence in the budgetary trajectory, supported by increased fiscal prudence and a strong commitment to achieving the short- and medium-term objectives of…


Alemania Economía

Germany approves first budget after relaxing fiscal rules with €116 billion total planned investment

Norbolsa | On Thursday, the German parliament approved the first budget after the radical reforms carried out at the beginning of the year to relax fiscal rules, including record investment to stimulate the economy in tandem with a commitment to increase defence spending. The budget includes a total investment of €116 billion, made possible by the €500 billion infrastructure fund and the exemption from considering defence spending as debt approved…


Eurozona salarios

ECB forecasts lower wage pressures for coming months

Bankinter | The ECB’s Wage Tracker shows an expected wage increase of 1.7% for the first half of 2026 against 2.1% in the second half of 2025 and 4.3% in the first half of 2025. Analysis team’s view: Good news for inflation in Europe. The ECB’s Wage Tracker is a tool developed by the ECB and the national central banks of the Eurosystem to monitor wage pressures in the euro…


alemania germany ZEW

ZEW Economic Sentiment Index for Germany rises from 34.7 points in August to 37.3 in September

Link Securities | The index, which measures the perception of the German economy by large institutional investors and analysts, compiled by the ZEW institute, rose in September to 37.3 points from 34.7 points in August, exceeding the 27.6 points expected by FactSet consensus analysts. Meanwhile, the index that assesses this group’s perception of the current situation of the German economy fell in September to -76.4 points from -68.6 points in…


portugal oporto

Fitch raises Portugal’s rating from ‘A-’ to “A” with ‘stable’ outlook, highlighting fiscal consolidation and debt reduction

Bankinter | The rating agency Fitch has upgraded Portugal’s rating from ‘A-’ to “A”, with a ‘stable’ outlook, highlighting fiscal consolidation, strong debt reduction and improvements in the external position. Fitch noted that public debt fell from 134.1% of GDP in 2020 to 96.4% in the first quarter of 2025, while public accounts continue to stand out with a projected surplus in 2025 (0.1% of GDP) and moderate deficits in…


Francia Bayrou

Fall of Bayrou’s government adds instability to French political scene

Bankinter | Political crisis as Bayrou’s government falls. He loses the vote of confidence in the National Assembly by 194 votes in favour and 364 against. This outcome forces President Macron to dismiss Bayrou and seek a new prime minister, the fourth in less than a year, or call elections. His comment that he will appoint a new prime minister within a few days reduces the likelihood of new elections….


Eurozona IPC 1

Despite 1/10 of percentage point rise compared to previous month, Eurozone inflation remains stable for six months close to ECB’s 2% target

Bankinter | Eurozone CPI was 2.1% year-on-year in August, while core CPI remained at 2.3% for the fourth consecutive month. The data was in line with expectations and reflects inflation virtually on target. Analysis team’s view: Although it rose by one tenth of a percentage point compared to the previous month, the important thing is that inflation has been stable for six months at levels close to the ECB’s target…


poverty

Spain remains among top five European countries with highest levels of severe material and social deprivation

Severe material and social deprivation continues to affect a significant portion of the Spanish population and keeps Spain in a comparatively unfavorable position within the European Union. The improvement seen between 2023 and 2024, when the percentage of the Spanish population in this situation dropped from 9% (the highest figure since this indicator has been measured) to 8.3%, is modest in both a temporal and comparative perspective, according to Eurostat…


coches venta

Car sales in Europe up 7.4% year-on-year in July compared to 7.3% drop in June; 0.7% fall for year as a whole

Bankinter | Car sales increased in July by 7.4% (year-on-year) compared to a drop of 7.3% in June. For the year as a whole, sales fell by 0.7%. Of particular note is the drop in sales of combustion vehicles (15.2% diesel and 12.0% petrol), while electric vehicles led the way (electric up by 39.1%, non-plug-in hybrids by 14.3% and plug-in hybrids by 56.9%). Analysis team’s view: Slightly positive news reflecting…


airbus cartel 1

Airbus preparing Tablada plant in Sevilla for part of assembly and production of Eurodrone fuselage

Link Securities | The company has begun adapting Building D at its facilities in Tablada (Seville) to support the Eurodrone programme, according to a report today in the newspaper elEconomista.es. Airbus had selected its plants in Sevilla and Cádiz for this project, in which Germany, France, Italy and Spain are participating alongside the company itself, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo (LDO-IT), and which plans to build 20 systems with three drones…