Spanish economy


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It’s IPO fiesta time in Spain!

MADRID | The Corner | In 2014, the Spanish stock market could register the largest number of IPOs since 1989 with a total of 17 operations, according to the Spanish Stock Exchange (BME). Up to present, eleven firms have won approval for initial public offerings with capital flows amounting to €4.8 billion.

 



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If employment stalls, can GDP grow?

MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | There is a consensus amongst  Spanish economists, who are forecasting a growth in GDP of 1.3% in 2014 and 2% in 2015. The Government shares this view and, on this basis, has already outlined the draft of next year’s budget. It believes that the “recovery and increased employment” phase is already under way, and in fact, that Spain is showing better indexes than the Euro zone average.


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2014 Spain’s fiscal adjustment on target; 2015 more challenging

(By Barclays) | The Spanish government presented the details of the 2015 draft fiscal budget on Wednesday and the updated macroeconomic outlook underpinning it. There are few changes on the fiscal targets and projections, although the government now expects the economy to grow this year by 1.3% and next by 2% (Barclays: 1.2% and 1.8%). The budget minister in the press conference saw very little risk of the sovereign meeting the deficit target of 5.5% of GDP this year. 


The fear of an accident which is beginning to dominate Spanish society

The independence of Catalonia and the future of Spain- reading the small print

MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | The debate about the independence of Catalonia is at the centre of Spain’s political concerns. The Catalan Government and the parties supporting it -covering a broad spectrum, from the centre to the extreme left- have taken every step to call the referendum (called query) that would open the door to independence. The Spanish authorities have taken steps to prevent a consultation-referendum which it says contravenes the text and spirit of the 1978 Spanish Constitution.


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An overly optimistic 2015 Spanish budget

MADRID | By JP Marín Arrese | The Spanish Budget  2015 aims at delivering growth and jobs. Yet, the draft disclosed on Tuesday shows the limited scope for enforcing such a goal. The foreseen improvement in the economic environment would increase available resources through enhanced taxable income,  a shrinking in unemployment and the debt-servicing bill. The Government intends to use the extra margin of manoeuvre to lower personal income and corporate taxes while increasing public investment. Yet, the amounts at stake hardly represent any sizeable boost for GPD. 


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Catalonia independence: not a divorce, but a fiscal pact

MADRID | The Corner | There is nothing better than politics to add volatility to the markets. After Catalan leader Artur Mas formally convoked a Nov. 9 referendum for Catalonia independence, the Spanish government is holding an emergency cabinet meeting Monday to launch a lawsuit aimed at blocking the vote. In the short term this clash could widen spreads in Spain and affect domestic banks with exposure to Catalonia, Morgan Stanley pointed out. The most probable scenario is a fiscal agreement, they believe.


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Abortion in Spain: Minister quits over his scrapped bill; government keeps votes

MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | Spanish Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz Gallardón announced his resignation on Tuesday after the government scrapped his controversial abortion reform plan restricting it to only cases of rape or serious health risks. Although Mr Gallardón had 30-year-experience in politics, president Rajoy let him go –he didn’t want to take the risk of losing more votes in the next elections.


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Spain will grow in 2014… hampered by Europe’s stagnation

MADRID | By Julia Pastor | It is likely that the Spanish government will revise  its growth forecasts upwards for the country in 2014, but only by one tenth of a percentage point-to 1.3%. This is  likely to be the submission that the Ministry of Economy together with the Ministry of Finance will give to the next Council of Ministers.