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Markets 16th March 2012

British SMEs better give up on expectations over bank finance and turn to bonds

LONDON | The capital stress levels that British banks suffer are regarded to be so dire not even a majority stakeholder like the UK’s government feels confident their credit tap should open. A Taskforce set up by the department of Business Innovation and Skills published Friday a report that recommends small and medium-size companies or SMEs to hunt for alternatives. The paper anticipates growth in demand for finance as the economy recovers…

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In Europe 7th March 2012

This is not a Madrid-Brussels fight

By Fernando González Urbaneja, in Madrid | Explaining the Spanish public deficit problem in 2012 in terms of confrontation between the government of Mariano Rajoy and Brussels is wrong and misleading. So far Brussels has not penalised members who do not meet their programmes, but has rather come to help achieve the objective, with more or less enthusiasm and more or less requirements imposed. Brussels may begin proceedings for an excessive…

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Spanish economy 4th February 2012

Are caps on pay for rescued banks in Spain fair enough?

By Juan Pedro Marín Arrese, in Madrid | It is only fair that banks being nationalised to save them from sheer collapse should follow a much restrictive pay policy on top executives and members of the board. After all, a huge amount of taxpayer money has been spent to fill the gaps derived from irresponsible management. The odd thing is that most culprits have already left the entities with their pockets…

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Spanish economy 12th January 2012

Spain starts the year by placing €10bn: twice the expected, at lower rates

MADRID | Europa Press | The Spanish Treasury managed to successfully close the first auction of the year by placing almost €10bn in bonds, twice the expected amount and at lower than expected rates, thus continuing the good streak of the previous issuances. The agency’s expectations were far exceeded by the result as in the last auction. It had only expected to obtain between €4bn and €5bn. The demand was again…

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Spanish economy 21st November 2011

The PP will control €7 out of €10 of Spain’s public spending

By Julia Pastor, in Madrid | Mariano Rajoy’s People’s Party has won the most crushing absolute majority of its history, with 186 seats out of the total 350 of the Spanish Parliament (in 2000, former president José María Aznar achieved 183). On Monday, analysts of the financial City of Madrid expressed their opinions about this shift in the political scene. “The elections results were already expected by the markets, since…

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aggregation line, Markets 11th October 2011

A very Chinese affair

How To Get Your Ex girlfriend Back From Barclays Capital | China's sovereign-wealth fund stepped in Monday to buy shares of the country's battered banks, which have been caught in a selloff that analysts say reflects a broader loss of trust in the integrity of corporate earnings and government statistics. The skepticism of investors comes as China has become increasingly exposed to global markets, largely through stock listings of its…

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Spanish economy 23rd September 2011

Spain is part of the hope

After one of the worst sell-off days in weeks and talking about the “European problem”, some brokers find in Spain reasons for hope: “I think there is some reason for optimism with respect of Europe. Spain is an example. They are taking the hard steps. They are going to have an election in November that will likely make the conservative candidate the new Prime Minister of Spain and they will…