Spain has strengthened the supply of natural gas to Europe via France, consolidating its position as a transit country for this fossil fuel, at a time of high demand on the continent due to the cold spell which is affecting a lot of neigbouring countries.
Spanish pensioners are on the brink of war. The group which has been the support for families during the 10 years of crisis, and has saved the country from social conflict, received a letter from the Labour Minister, Fátima Bañez, at the beginning of the year. Despite the fact CPI is now over 1.5%, she said she was maintaining the 0.25% increase in the pensions.
Spain’s mortgage financing grew 9.7% in 2017, although in terms of borrowed capital the rise was much higher at 16.6%. So it can be seen that the recovery in the mortgage market is consolidating after the strong adjustment suffered during the crisis.
The German Federal Administrative Court has ruled that cities can veto access to diesel engines as an option to curb air pollution, following the court-indicted grace period until September. Other measures such as pollution stickers are also feasible. However, the ruling does not mean that diesel cars are vetoed in German cities from now on.
A report from Deloitte urges Spain’s Energy Minister Álvaro Nadal to change the current model for asset remuneration and go for one similar to that in use in other European countries. The proposal implies an improved remuneration system for companies and, at the same time, forecasts reductions in electricity bills thanks to bigger demand in a more electrified economy.
Despite the improvement in macro data over the last few years (GDP has risen by 13% and employment – Active Population Survey – 12.1% from its lows), the consequences of the crisis on the destruction of Spain’s businesses fabric still remain.
Many argue that Spain lacks a proper government, with the one in office proving unable to secure parliamentary backing for the 2018 general budget.
Mario Esteban and Miguel Otero-Iglesias | As in many other European countries, Chinese investments in Spain have increased spectacularly over that past years. Nonetheless, there has not been a public or political debate around the topic, and even less a thorough reflection by the government, the media and the academic community at large about the implications of these investments.
Spain banks 2017 results confirmed that last year was one of transition for the interest margins. Looking to the future, the pillars of the banking sector’s strategy will continue to be the reduction in problematical assets and the improvement in profitability, within a context where a sustained recovery is still pending (average ROE in 2017 of 7%, on a par with 2016).
It seems obvious that the most sensible thing to do with respect to retirement is to try to save something and invest it well to complement the meager pension which, foreseeably, the State will give us when we retire.