MADRID | By Francisco López | Figures of March’s unemployment in Spain are clearly good, although talking about a trend change in labour market seems sort of unwise given current indicators of growth, deficit and debt. Therefore, Spanish Ministry of Economy Luis de Guindos anticipated a modification of the economic estimations that will be sent to the European Comission before the end of April.
BARCELONA | By Joan Tapia | Spain has seen its credibility boosted by the European Commission and other international players like the IMF. However, this brighter image has not been translated into more confidence from its citizens.
BARCELONA | By Joan Tapia | Markit analysts point out the positive impact of the wage reductions that increase the competitiveness of Spanish products and help export. If Europe pulls the cord – as the PMI show- the economy could accelerate in the coming months. The Government exaggerates these data (reforms, foreign capitals inflow, and European growth) to underline that the economy will create jobs in 2014 while other analysts – more independent or from other political areas – show more caution.
MADRID | By Jaime Fernández Santisteban | After months at the centre of controversy, Spain is making headlines about recovery and everyone seems to be bullish on the country. Spain is almost back to pre-crisis levels, says IMF’s Lagarde. But is it? What has changed then? Marta Soria and Rebeca Gimeno are a couple of journalist-economists behind Economía en dos tardes, a blog bringing economy and business closer to people. They shared with The Corner TV their outlook for the year that is just beginning.
MADRID: By Álex García.
NEW YORK | By Ana Fuentes | In an eagerly awaited meeting for the Spanish government, PM Mariano Rajoy made his first official visit to the White House on Monday. As expected, Barack Obama praised the progress and reforms made by the Southern European economy, although both leaders agreed unemployment rate is still posing a major challenge. Later, Mr Rajoy also met IMF’s Head Christine Lagarde. After two hard recession years, and even more painful austerity measures, Spain is looking to restore international investors’ confidence.
FRANKFURT | By Lidia Conde | The oldest German private bank, Bankhaus Metzler, was founded in 1674 and is managed by Friedrich von Metzler. Emmerich Müller is partner and member of the Executive Board, and he believes that private banking and heritage conservation for generations are key questions in a country with a rich heritage and a large number of wealthy people.
LONDON | By Barclays analysts | We expect Europe to experience a long period of moderate economic growth, coupled with very low inflation: for the EU28, GDP should grow 1.5% in 2014 and accelerate to 1.7% in 2015, while inflation should bottom at 1.2% in 2014 before edging up slightly, to 1.4%, in 2015.
NEW YORK | By Ana Fuentes | Remember when Spain’s sovereign debt was smashing to a euro-era record high? Just 18 months ago Wall Street market makers as well as their favorite media expressed their suspicious about non-performing loans, the Spanish banks’ health, and government reforms. Pundits even talked about a Spain leaving the euro after the “Grexit”. Goldman Sachs was sure that “the worst” was yet to come and claimed that the country “should ask for a “Spailout.” But things have changed and now it’s time for the ‘mea culpa’ and the “may be it wasn’t that bad.” Investors are showing interest in Spain and headlines talk about growth, exports boom and the country getting back on its feet bank’s bailout.
LONDON | By Barclays analysts | Industrial production data in September were slightly weaker than we expected, adding further downside risks to our expectation that Italy’s GDP growth was flat in Q3.