A few weeks ago Spanish soprano Ainhoa Arteta let loose and made some harsh comments to the press, complaining that the Inland Revenue is “crushing” her with taxes. And once again everyone is betting the government will implement tax hikes to provide a solution for the 5 billion euros imbalance in the public deficit and comply with the 3.1% target demanded by the European Commission.
If demographics fail, the economy doesn’t grow and employment stagnates, then there is no difference at all between the pay-as-you go system (Spain’s current state pension system) and the capitalisation scheme (put forward as a miraculous solution, now used in private pension schemes), says expert Niko Garnier.
Spain’s seven big banks registered net profit of 10.2 billion euros in the nine months to September, up 4.4% from a year earlier. Against a backdrop of low interest rates, corporate transactions have distored the banks’ global earnings.
The most important thing is not the fact that Rajoy has been saved, although it is, because he is giving investors and businessmen reasons to still have confidence in Spain. But it is the fact that he has saved the country from the worst case scenario: a return to times of misrule, which in this case would have been even more bloody for the country.
Everyone seems to agree that salaries need to be increased in order to activate and maintain economic growth. That said, the differences between trade unions and businessmen is abysmal. And even though Spain’s economy may be growing at 3.1% in 2016, the country’s average wage has barely risen by 232 euros over the last 15 years.
Spain’s main non-financial listed companies are contributing to building a more balanced, flexible and resistant financial system. According to a report prepard by BME’s Research Department, between 2010 and 2015 this group’s shareholder funds grew by 15.4% and its financial debt fell by 12.2%, with a decline of nearly 40% in bank credit and and a parallel 23% rise in fixed income issuances.
Spain’s risk premium has fallen almost 5% with respect to Friday’s close after the socialist party’s decision to abstain and facilitate, finally, the formation of a government. So Mariano Rajoy will become President again after nearly 11 months in a caretaker role.
The PSOE “barons” rebellion against party leader Pedro Sanchez represents an internal power struggle. A national issue. Sanchez has been replaced by an interim executive committe headed by Javier Fernandez. Sanchez had a strategy worked out.
J.L.M. Campuzano (Spanish Banking Association) | The Bank of Spain has published the financial accounts for households and companies in the second quarter. The cash and deposits component was the highest, standing at 44% of total financial assets, representing a 1.3 percentage points rise in the period. This says a lot about their huge lack of confidence in the future.
The Industry Ministry is preparing new renewable energy auctions. It plans to invite tenders for between 3,000 and 4,000 technology neutral MW. That means auctions in which any kind of renewable energy can compete: wind, biomass, thermosolar, photovoltaic etc. This new boost for the renewables is happening to ensure Spain complies with the EU directive of fulfilling at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020.