Top Stories

Spain

Spanish companies affected by Trump's policies

Markets 27th January 2017

This Is How Trump’s Policies Will Affect Spanish Companies

In general, the economic policies announced by Mr. Trump champion “strong capitalism”, where success is awarded and the reverse, which should be a good thing. But Ahorro Corporacion does not agree that the protectionist measures announced, which in their view imply increased regulation, limit competition and so the efficient assignation of resources, are positive. Analysts have tried to quantify the possible outcome for Spanish companies.

Spain´s public deficit in 2017 was the highest in the EU

In Europe 26th January 2017

Spain Is No Longer A Problem For Europe: There Are Other Fronts Open

The euro’s fourth biggest economy will not be the protagonist in long economic debates in 2017.  Spain’s deficit and its domestic politics are no longer a concern for Brussels, now focused on the Brexit negotiations and worried about the complicated elections cycle in various countries.

Carmen Barreda

Interviews 11th January 2017

“Coal Still Accounts For 20% Of Our Electricity Generation: Even More In 2016”

“We are still generating 20% of our electricity with coal and this increased in 2016 compared with the previous year…It’s cheaper than gas. And that’s the point: no matter how much we try to establish targets, companies operate on a day-to-day basis, look for economic efficiency and use the cheapest form of energy available,” says Carmen Gómez de Barreda, board member at Red Eléctrica.

Spanish stocks

Markets 5th January 2017

Spanish Stock Exchange Trading In 2016 Decreased By 32% To €652.9Bn

The Spanish equities market saw a turnover of €652.907 billion in 2016, a decline of 32.1% from a year earlier. The fall is in line with the general decrease in volumes registered in stock markets across the world. In December, trading volumes fell 27.5% to €48.987 billion from a year earlier.

Socimis' boom

Markets 27th December 2016

Will the Socimis recover? Everyone thinks they will

Most analysts believe the recovery in the stock prices of Spain’s  four big Socimis will continue over the coming months. Between 70% and 80% of all brokerage houses have a buy recommendation. The fact these property investment vehicles have quite high returns and there is very little competition are amongst the positive factors.

Spain's banking sector

Spanish economy 19th December 2016

Spain’s Banking Sector In 2020: Seven Lenders Remaining?

A lot of matters need to be addressed in Spain’s banking sector in the next four years. Urgent matters are the full privatisation of Bankia and the irrelevant BMN; completing the transformation of the savings banks (La Caixa, Kutxabank, Ibercaja, Unicaja and Liberbank), the adjustment of Banco Popular and the retirement of the post-war bankers.

renewables

In Europe 15th December 2016

New Proposal On Premiums Will Hit Spanish Renewables Retribution

In 2016, Spain’s Energy Ministry needs to revise the parameters related to the adjustment of green energy premiums included in the 2013 electricity sector reform. The proposal which Energy Minister Alvaro Nadal has sent to the National Competition Commission, pending amendments in order to have it ready before end-year, has not gone down well with green energy producers. They say that the proposal, as it is, limits the premiums and does not allow them to reach the stipulated reasonable rate of return.

Spain defence spending

World economy 28th November 2016

More Deficit?: Spain Obliged To Double Defence Budget

Someone like Donald Trump emerging on the world stage threatens to make too many changes in the status quo, some of which will have a particular impact on Europe’s economies and especially Spain. One area which appears likely to progress at a cruising speed in the short and medium-term is Defence spending. This is a particularly sensitive issue and one which Obama already tried to have modified during his mandate.