Business

September proved to be a pivotal month for the European Central Bank (ECB), as it announced significant updates to its monetary policy framework. On September 18, the ECB made adjustments to two of its three key reference interest rates, signaling a renewed focus on the deposit facility. This move underscores the ECB’s efforts to fine-tune its policies and ensure the effective transmission of monetary decisions across the eurozone economy. The deposit facility, often overlooked outside financial circles, has now taken center stage in the ECB’s strategy. While it may seem technical, this mechanism plays a vital role in shaping the…

Juanma Moreno, President of the Junta de Andalucía, has embarked on an institutional visit to China, aiming to bolster Andalusia’s presence in key industrial and tourism markets across Asia. Running until September 5, the mission is designed to position the autonomous region as an attractive hub for major Chinese corporations and affluent travelers. This diplomatic endeavor unfolds amid ongoing trade tensions between China and the European Union. Despite these challenges, Andalusia has emerged as a strategic entry point for Chinese businesses, particularly in the renewable energy and automotive sectors. In recent years, the region has successfully attracted 15 Chinese business…

Berkshire Hathaway, the investment firm led by Warren Buffett, has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the first U.S. technology company to surpass a $1 trillion market capitalization. This achievement has drawn attention not only for its scale but also for the way it outperformed major technology players like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia—until it was overtaken by the Saudi Arabian oil giant, Aramco, in the global markets. Buffett’s conglomerate is on track to achieve a 30% growth for the year, with much of this success driven by strong performances in its core insurance operations and a broader positive outlook on…

José Luis Escrivá, the current Minister of Digital Transformation and Public Functions, has been nominated as the next Governor of the Bank of Spain. His candidacy will be officially presented to the Economic Commission of Congress by his colleague, Carlos Body, as reported by Cadena SER. However, the nomination has sparked significant political debate, with the Popular Party (PP) opposing the move and preparing to propose their own candidate for the role of Deputy Governor. The process to formalize Escrivá’s appointment begins with the need for approval from the Spanish Parliament’s Lower House, with a session scheduled for 3:00 p.m.…

Amid rising trade disputes, China has opted not to implement extra tariffs on spirits imported from the European Union for now, offering some relief to European producers. This decision comes after a turbulent period marked by growing tensions between Beijing and Brussels, following the European Commission’s decision to impose tariffs of up to 36.3% on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). The investigation into European spirits and the possible practice of dumping—where products are sold at unfairly low prices to outcompete local producers—has added another layer of complexity to the trade relations between China and the EU. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce…

European stock markets showed resilience this week, with the EuroStoxx 50 gaining 0.4% in early trading on Friday, while Spain’s Ibex 35 saw a modest increase of 0.1%. Despite the Ibex 35’s slower pace, both it and the EuroStoxx 50 are poised to record a positive week overall. Investor sentiment has buoyed markets, as most European indices have now gained over 2.5% compared to the previous month. Driving this optimism has been encouraging economic data from the United States, which has helped ease fears of a potential recession in the world’s largest economy. Globally, stock markets have rebounded after facing…