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 money markets and influencing broader economic conditions. The growing importance of the deposit facility The deposit facility, which allows banks to deposit exce...

The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) approach to rate adjustments has consistently challenged market expectations, offering important lessons for investors navigating monetary policy cycles. Historically, the disconnect between market predictions and the Fed’s actual actions has been a recurring theme, often leading to surprises that reshape investment strategies. Analysts caution that the central bank may still be “behind the curve,” implying that its future policy adjustments could be more aggressive or profound than anticipated. Over the decades, investors have often struggled to accurately predict the trajectory of interest rates. Since 1990, there have been six significant rate-cutting cycles, with markets underestimating the magnitude of cuts in four of them: 1990, 2000, 2007, and 2019. Only ...

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 ventures, bringing an estimated €700 million in investments. Strengthening industrial connections One prominent ex...

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 the economy. As the chief investment officer at Check Capital Management, Steve Check, remarked, “Berkshire has done it the slowest but safest way possible.” His f...

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. If the proposal is approved, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will issue a royal decree. After its publication in the Official Gazette of the State (BOE), Escriv...

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 had initiated an inquiry into European alcoholic beverages, particularly focusing on whether producers were engaging in dumping practices....