Business

ECB President Christine Lagarde told the European Parliament that inflation is easing and rate cuts are taking effect but warned of trade risks. She reaffirmed a cautious, data-driven approach and stressed the need for a digital euro to strengthen Europe’s financial autonomy. ADVERTISEMENT European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has told European policymakers that inflation is easing and recent …

US President Donald Trump officially imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, sparking selloffs in the stock markets, and a further surge in gold prices. ADVERTISEMENT Stock futures fell, gold reached a new high, and the euro slid against the dollar amid Trump’s renewed tariffs on two major industrial metals in Tuesday’s Asian session. Risk-aversion sentiment may ripple through …

A number of Chinese electric vehicle companies have announced a range of promotions over the Lunar New Year holidays, such as better financing deals, in an effort to boost flagging sales. ADVERTISEMENT As the Year of the Snake kicks off, Chinese car manufacturers have begun launching a number of aggressive promotions to boost flagging deliveries over the Lunar New Year …

The CDU leader said that Germany may need to loosen its debt limit to finance defence spending, although other solutions should be prioritised. ADVERTISEMENT Friedrich Merz, the leading contender in Germany’s upcoming federal election, has said he is open to reforming the country’s debt rules. In a televised debate on Sunday, organised by ARD and ZDF, the leader of the …

Trump’s comments on 25% tariffs are the latest example of his willingness to threaten, and in some cases to impose, import taxes. Tariffs are coming much earlier in his presidency than during his previous four years in the White House, when he prioritised tax cuts and deregulation. ADVERTISEMENT President Donald Trump said he will announce on Monday that the United …

China’s inflation rose at its fastest pace in five months, driven by holiday spending, which is expected to be a continued source of encouragement for European consumer stocks. ADVERTISEMENT China’s consumer prices increased by 0.5% year on year in January, the sharpest rise since August 2024, buoyed by Lunar New Year spending. The reading also exceeded economists’ average estimate of …

In a Euronews interview, the CEO of Volvo Cars warned that 2025 would be a tough one for the motor industry. He also shared his views on tariffs and the development of electric vehicle sales. ADVERTISEMENT The CEO of Volvo Cars, Jim Rowan, told Euronews that the group is “well-prepared but mindful” that 2025 is going to be a challenging …

Here’s what investors are eyeing on the markets next week, according to investment platform AJ Bell. BP, Tuesday 11 February ADVERTISEMENT At the start of next week, those following oil and gas firms will be paying attention to British firm BP, which releases its full-year results on the 11 February. The shares are struggling to recover from two-and-a-half-year lows, with …

The Spanish lender aims to offer shareholders €3.3 billion, including more than €1bn in buybacks this year. ADVERTISEMENT Spain’s Sabadell Bank announced on Friday that it had achieved a record full-year profit, allowing it to offer generous shareholder payouts. The bank shared that it had made €1.83bn in 2024, a year-on-year jump of 37% – while fourth-quarter profit jumped 19% …

The BoE’s predictions follow its decision on Thursday to cut its main interest rate for the third time in six months. The bank now predicts that the British economy will only grow by 0.75% this year, down from its previous forecast of 1.5% just three months ago. ADVERTISEMENT In a statement, the bank’s nine-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) lowered its …