Finance

Argentina and expensive oil: a net exporter thanks to Vaca Muerta, but with domestic costs
The oil surge, with North Sea Dated averaging US$116.89 per barrel in September and around US$134 when the IEA's October report was prepared, is a global economic shock. Argentina, formerly an energy importer, is now a net exporter thanks to Vaca Muerta: its trade balance in the segment went from imports of about US$11 billion a year to a surplus of between US$6,663 and 7,815 million last year, heading toward US$10 billion this year. The benefit comes alongside costlier fuels and a declining manufacturing industry.
FinanceInternationalClarin.comOct 25AI
ASML tops the list of Europe's most valuable companies, where banks lead in 15 countries
An analysis by Visual Capitalist, using market capitalization data as of September 29, 2026, identifies the most valuable company in 42 European countries. ASML, a maker of lithography machines for chips, tops the list with $670 billion, nearly double that of UK bank HSBC ($342.35 billion). In 28 of the 42 countries the leader is a financial or energy company, and in 15 it is a bank. Banco Santander represents Spain with $205.11 billion.
FinanceInternationalXatakaOct 25AI
Insolvency administrator proposes closing Tubos Reunidos' Nanclares plant
The insolvency administrator of Tubos Reunidos has proposed launching a redundancy procedure (ERE) to shut the Nanclares plant, arguing that the bids submitted do not guarantee its future: of the five bidders, only one includes those facilities and does so under conditions that make it impossible to execute. The works council rejects the ERE while the insolvency process remains open and proposes a temporary layoff scheme (ERTE) until the process is clarified; final bids are expected in December. The insolvency administrator has told unions that payroll payments are not assured beyond November.
FinanceInternationalEl CorreoOct 25AI
DIY stores in the Iberian market post €9.285 billion in revenue, up 9.9%
According to the DBK Sectoral Observatory of INFORMA (a Cesce subsidiary), combined revenue of specialised DIY stores in the Iberian market reached €9.285 billion in 2025, 9.9% more than the previous year and above the 7.0% seen in 2024. Spain contributed €7.450 billion (+9.8%) and Portugal €1.835 billion (+10.2%). Growth was supported by network expansion, the digital channel, the housing market and price increases.
FinanceInternationalEmpresa ActualOct 25AI
Passive management dominates Europe's best-selling funds: eight of the top ten are index funds
According to Morningstar data as of the end of September, eight of the ten funds that attracted the most money in Europe are passively managed. The leader is the Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF, with more than 23 billion euros raised in the first nine months of the year, nearly double the second best-seller. The two active exceptions are PIMCO GIS Balanced Income and Growth, with 11.83 billion, and DNCA Invest Alpha Bonds, with close to 8 billion. In Spain, fixed income and maturity-horizon funds predominate.
FinanceInternationalEl EconomistaOct 25AI
Merlin Properties falls 30% from June highs on shifting data center expectations
Merlin Properties has fallen 30% from its June highs and turned negative for the year, down 9%, hitting lows last seen in July 2025. The Spanish socimi is exposed to CoreWeave, which accounts for about 90% of its data center rents and has dropped 38% in October. Despite this, 80.3% of analyst recommendations are buy, according to Bloomberg, and Jefferies reiterated its buy rating this week.
FinanceInternationalCinco DíasOct 24AI
Analysis using Federal Reserve data shows large families are more common among the richest 1% in the US
An analysis published in the US based on Federal Reserve data indicates that fertility has stopped being inverse to income: 49% of households with children in the richest 1% (incomes above 1.4 million dollars a year) have three or more children, more than ten points above the bottom 10%. The author, Mike Konczal, attributes the gap to the cost of raising children. In Spain, the INE Fertility Survey shows that children per man rose only among high earners.
FinanceInternationalEl ConfidencialOct 24AI
The Overdeck divorce on Wall Street: four financial lessons from a multibillion-dollar case
The divorce trial between John Overdeck, co-founder of hedge fund Two Sigma, and Laura Overdeck is being held in a Newark, New Jersey court and could lead to one of the largest divorce settlements in history. He has offered $723 million; she is seeking about $2.2 billion, 35% of what she considers her husband's stake in the firm to be worth. Lawyers cited in the case point to lessons such as signing a prenuptial agreement, valuing the company before marriage, paying a market-rate salary and separating the company from the family office.
FinanceInternationalEl ConfidencialOct 24AI
BCIE raises its credit line for Guatemalan mid-sized companies to USD 38.8 million
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) approved on October 23, 2026 a third increase of USD 8.8 million for Financiera Consolidada S. A. (Cofinsa), part of CMI Capital, raising its Global Credit Line for Guatemalan mid-sized companies to USD 38.8 million. The funds will go to working capital, fixed assets, foreign trade and productive activities. Since 2022, the alliance between the regional bank and Cofinsa has granted 62 loans that helped generate 1,832 jobs in Guatemala.
FinanceInternationalInfobaeOct 24AI
Perma-Pipe sets up operating subsidiary in Jordan with Welspun Corp
U.S.-based Perma-Pipe International Holdings formalized an operating subsidiary in Jordan dedicated to pipe solutions, building on preliminary agreements signed with Welspun Corp to create a pipe manufacturing and coating platform. The company aims to meet energy and water infrastructure demand in the Levant and the Persian Gulf, with plants for anti-corrosion coating and thermal insulation. Technical and financial analyses are still underway to define installed capacity and the investment plan.
FinanceInternationalInspenetOct 24AI
Argentine industry fell again in September and remains in negative territory, according to private estimates
Two private surveys agree that industrial activity did not consolidate August's improvement. FIEL recorded a 2.9% year-on-year drop in September and a cumulative -1.4% over nine months; Orlando J. Ferreres y Asociados measured -1.5% year-on-year and -2.3% cumulative. In the seasonally adjusted monthly comparison, FIEL posted -0.9% and Ferreres +0.1%. Oil refining leads the gains, while the automotive and machinery industries are among the hardest hit.
FinanceInternationalInfobaeOct 24AI
Official dollar opens Monday, October 26, at 1,500 pesos for buying and 1,550 for selling
After the weekend, with no financial market movements, the official dollar opens on Monday, October 26, at the same values as its last close: 1,500 pesos for buying and 1,550 for selling on Banco Nación's boards. The blue dollar traded on the last business day at 1,513.20 for buying and 1,560 for selling, while the MEP closed at 1,555.29 and the contado con liquidación at 1,646.88.
FinanceInternationalLa NaciónOct 24AI
La Pampa signs contracts for two solar parks with over US$24 million in private investment
At Pampetrol's offices, temporary consortium contracts were signed for the construction, commissioning and operation of the Pico II and Pico III solar parks, awarded under Public Tender 1/26. They will add 30 MW to the 15 MW of Pico I, which is more than 60% complete, for a total of 45 MW. Executing the two new projects involves private investment of more than 24 million dollars.
FinanceInternationalLa ArenaOct 24AI
Braskem discloses to investors details of its proposals to restructure US$11 billion debt
Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem said it disclosed to certain debt holders and investors the details of restructuring proposals tied to an out-of-court proceeding to renegotiate US$11 billion in debt. In a regulatory filing, the company said that after several meetings with its main shareholders and investors, none of the restructuring proposals was accepted and the parties have not yet reached an agreement on the terms. The details disclosed include an updated business plan and one proposal from the company and another from investors.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 24AI
Volkswagen plans new Audi plant in Georgia and expands Scout Motors in South Carolina
Volkswagen will build a new Audi factory in Macon, Georgia, to produce the Q7, Q8 and Q9 models, with capacity for 200,000 vehicles a year, and will expand its Scout Motors plant in Blythewood, South Carolina, adding 25,000 units a year. Donald Trump will announce the plan on Saturday at a political event in Perry, Georgia. The company hopes to obtain tariff relief, although any change would apply to all manufacturers that expand production in the United States.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 24AI
Voith Hydro wins electromechanical contract for the 90 MW Jomori hydropower plant in Bhutan
Voith Hydro secured the electromechanical contract for the Jomori hydropower project, with 90 MW of installed capacity in Bhutan, awarded by state-owned Druk Hydro Energy. The scope includes engineering, manufacturing and supply of generating units, hydraulic turbines and auxiliary balance-of-plant systems, as well as detailed design, laboratory testing and assembly of powerhouse components. With this award, the German firm's portfolio in the country exceeds 294 MW, adding projects such as Nikachhu, Burgangchhu and Yungichhu.
FinanceInternationalInspenetOct 24AI
Russia attacks commercial shipping in the Black Sea with drones and extends the threat to Romanian and Bulgarian waters
Russia, unable to dominate the Black Sea, is attacking commercial shipping with drones off Romania and Bulgaria, both EU and NATO members. The cargo ship Khoryv, flagged in the Comoros, caught fire and sank on Friday 24 kilometres from Constanza and one of its crew members died; Romanian President Nicusor Dan attributed the attack to Russia. At least seven merchant vessels had been hit and around 30 sailors killed or missing in the previous two weeks. NATO announced more patrol aircraft, radars and drones.
FinanceInternationalEl MundoOct 24AI
Nearly 75% of Gen Z investors changed or are considering changing their portfolios ahead of the U.S. midterm elections
Nearly three-quarters of Gen Z investors, those under 30, said they changed their portfolios ahead of November's midterm elections or were considering doing so, compared with 17% of baby boomers, according to a Nationwide Retirement Institute survey conducted by Harris Poll in August and September with more than 2,000 investors and 500 financial professionals. Across all age groups, 40% said they had made changes. Nearly two-thirds of the advisers surveyed said the best strategy in an election year is to do nothing.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 24AI
Wealthiest passengers keep airlines afloat as fuel costs rise
Major airlines are deepening their bet on luxury travel to protect margins as fuel costs climb. British Airways unveiled the largest business-class cabin on the market, Delta is expanding its Porsche fleet for premium airport transfers and Southwest is adding premium options. U.S. airfares rose 22% in September year-on-year, but demand for the most expensive seats remains firm. Delta cut its full-year profit forecast and reported that, for the first time, premium revenue exceeded traditional economy sales.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 24AI
Chip-backed debt heads toward a US$1 trillion market
Financing backed by artificial intelligence chips is heading toward becoming a US$1 trillion market, according to Bloomberg. The first major deal was a US$2.3 billion private credit loan led by Blackstone for CoreWeave in 2023. Major US banks, asset managers and manufacturers such as Broadcom and Nvidia now participate, with the chipmakers offering guarantees for these deals. JPMorgan analysts expect chip spending to exceed US$3 trillion through 2030, mostly debt-financed, while doubts grow about the sector's profitability.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 24AI