Finance

Spain's CNMC commissions REE report to decide who pays the "high" cost of anti-blackout operations
On July 27, 2026, the CNMC asked Red Eléctrica for a study on the methodology for allocating technical restrictions to demand, to assess whether the current mechanism sends adequate signals to consumers and reflects costs correctly. The regulator rejected the large utilities' proposal to set an ex-ante regulated price and warns that the overall cost of technical restrictions remains high, even though reinforced operation fell from 516 to 275 million euros.
FinanceInternationalCinco DíasOct 25AI
Brookfield seeks to sell 1,550 rental homes in Madrid amid regulatory uncertainty
Canadian fund Brookfield is negotiating the sale of two portfolios totaling around 1,550 rental homes in Madrid: one of five buildings with 850 homes and another of seven blocks with 700 units. According to market sources, it is already in talks with an Asian fund and a Spanish family office. Doubts over closing the deal stem from regulatory uncertainty following the decree known as 'Maricarmen' and the November 29 elections. Brookfield bought the homes in April as part of a 5,000-home package from Fidere for 1.05 billion euros.
FinanceInternationalCinco DíasOct 25AI
Analysts expect the dollar between 3,250 and 3,300 pesos at year-end
Analysts expect the dollar to rebound in Colombia toward the end of 2026. The Davivienda Corredores Financial Assets Survey, conducted between October 13 and 19, found that 60 percent of the institutional investors consulted expect the dollar between 3,200 and 3,400 pesos at year-end, with a median of 3,300. Credicorp Capital estimates 3,250 pesos for December, compared with 3,148 pesos at the previous Friday's interbank close. Foreign currency inflows and US rates influence the price.
FinanceColombiaEl TiempoOct 25AI
The Strait of Hormuz crisis temporarily relieves the finances of Spanish renewables
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz drove up gas and electricity prices, giving breathing room to hundreds of Spanish renewable plants, especially solar ones, that were struggling to repay their loans. Forecasts for the end of 2026 point to revenues of between 35 and 40 euros per MWh, compared with the just over 20 euros expected before the crisis. UNEF had requested a 945 million euro line from the ICO for some 10,000 MW in difficulties.
FinanceInternationalEl ConfidencialOct 25AI
Magda Chambriard, the engineer leading Petrobras after Lula's reelection
Magda Chambriard has chaired Petrobras since May 24, 2024, and is at the center of Brazil's energy scene after Lula's reelection, in which he won 51.8% of valid votes according to the TSE. A civil engineer from UFRJ, she joined the oil company in 1980 and was the first woman to head the ANP. Her term ends on April 13, 2027, and renewal depends on the board of directors. The company earned u$s 19.6 billion in 2025 and in October of that year completed its first Vaca Muerta gas import.
FinanceInternationalShale24Oct 25AI
Financial psychologist: mental patterns about money shape decisions without people noticing
Brad Klontz, a doctor of psychology, certified financial planner and associate professor at Creighton University, argues that people's relationship with money is shaped by beliefs formed since childhood, based on family experiences and their environment. Klontz calls these deep ideas "money scripts," which guide how people spend, save and invest, and warns that most people do not realize they influence their decisions. He therefore argues that knowledge about budgeting and investing is not enough: people also need to review their own history with money.
FinanceInternationalClarin.comOct 25AI
Wood Thilsted to design foundations for the 1.5 GW Outer Dowsing offshore wind farm
Engineering firm Wood Thilsted won the contract for the detailed design of the monopile foundations at the Outer Dowsing offshore wind farm, with a projected capacity of 1.5 GW, off the coast of Lincolnshire in the United Kingdom. The scope includes structural modelling of up to 100 support structures, geometric optimisation of the tubes and material fatigue analysis. The project is promoted by TotalEnergies, Corio Generation and Gulf Energy Development, after completing FEED studies and securing planning consent.
FinanceInternationalInspenetOct 25AI
Argentine stocks, bonds and country risk under pressure after Lula's win in Brazil
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's reelection in Brazil was read as a "bad signal" by investors and Argentine assets would feel the impact, according to analysts cited by Clarín. The EWZ, the main ETF tracking Brazilian stocks, fell more than 20% in the final minutes of the vote count, and Argentine ADRs such as Banco Galicia's were down more than 9% before Monday's open. Argentina's country risk had closed Friday at 707 points and the City expects it to heat up due to a "contagion effect."
FinanceInternationalClarin.comOct 25AI
Markets react to Lula's win in Brazil: EWZ ETF plunges nearly 20% and the real comes under pressure
After Lula Da Silva's victory in Brazil's runoff, Brazilian financial assets are posting sharp declines in pre-market trading. The EWZ ETF, which groups the main companies on the Brazilian stock exchange, plunges nearly 20%, while Petrobras and Itaú were down almost 13%. Real futures depreciate 10%. Analysts say Monday's open will be key to gauge the size of the move and how much was already priced in.
FinanceInternationalAmbitoOct 25AI
US banks to close branches on November 11 and 26 for federal holidays
Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo and other institutions will close their branches in the United States on Wednesday, November 11 for Veterans Day and Thursday, November 26 for Thanksgiving. Banks follow the Federal Reserve holiday calendar, which closes on the 11 federal holidays. Online banking, mobile apps and ATMs will remain available, though payments scheduled on a holiday may be processed the next business day. Branches will also close on December 25 for Christmas.
FinanceInternationalDiario ASOct 25AI
Brazilian assets slump after Lula's reelection and point to a Monday of losses
The reelection of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva over Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in Sunday's October 25 runoff triggered sharp falls in real derivatives and in instruments linked to Brazilian equities before markets reopened. With 93.03% of votes counted, Lula had 51.68% against Bolsonaro's 48.32%. Investors had bet on a Bolsonaro win, and Brazilian assets had accumulated gains since the first round.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 25AI
Vicctus MFO focuses its expansion on Chile, Colombia, Guatemala and Ecuador
Vicctus Multi Family Office, part of the Credicorp group, is consolidating its business in four key Latin American markets: Chile, Colombia, Guatemala and Ecuador. Its Chief Investment Officer, Roberto Melzi, told Funds Society that the firm, founded in Peru and with an RIA in Miami, seeks to offer investment, tax and financial planning advice to high-net-worth clients in the region. Melzi said that, except for Chile, a highly competitive market, those markets have greater growth capacity. Regional growth has been mostly organic.
FinanceInternationalFunds SocietyOct 25AI
Fed, inflation and Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon earnings set the week
Markets face a busy week: the Fed will decide monetary policy on Wednesday, October 28, with the market expecting it to hold rates at 3.75%-4.00%. Alphabet and Microsoft report earnings the same day, and Amazon on Thursday. The September PCE and the first estimate of third-quarter US GDP will also be published. Decisions are due from the Bank of Canada, the ECB, the Bank of Japan and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and on Friday from Colombia's Banco de la República, with its reference rate at 12.25%.
FinanceInternationalXTB.comOct 25AI
Santander, BBVA and Sabadell relaunch personal banking to hold off neobanks
Spain's large banks have refocused on personal banking, the segment of clients with assets between 100,000 and 500,000 euros, as a defensive move against neobanks. Santander, BBVA and Sabadell have revised their strategy with organizational changes or an expanded service offering. Digital players such as Trade Republic, Revolut and MyInvestor are gaining ground among clients with greater savings and investment capacity thanks to their product range, competitive fees and digital operations.
FinanceInternationalExpansiónOct 25AI
Dollar ends the week nearly flat in Colombia: TRM at COP 3,158.43 and spot at COP 3,145
The dollar ended the week almost where it started in Colombia. The TRM moved from COP 3,156.46 on Monday, October 19, to COP 3,158.43 on Friday, October 23, a rise of COP 1.97, and never exceeded COP 3,200. In the spot market the decline was nearly COP 13, to COP 3,145. High oil prices, domestic fiscal uncertainty, global risk aversion and the Banco de la República's 12.25% rate explain the behavior, according to the analysts cited.
FinanceColombiaEl EspectadorOct 25AI
Wärtsilä expands role to EPC contracts at seven power plants in Brazil
Wärtsilä expanded its role in seven power plant projects in northeastern Brazil after amending its agreements with Origem Energia. Initial equipment supply orders become full Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts, with responsibility for handing over the thermal infrastructure. The Pilar, Pilar Nova and Manguaba I to V projects, in Alagoas, will add 371 MW with 36 Wärtsilä 34SG gas engines. Pilar and Pilar Nova expect to operate in October 2028 and Manguaba from August 2029.
FinanceInternationalInspenetOct 25AI
Checks, guarantees and tokenization: the alternatives Argentine SMEs are exploring as bank credit loses ground
Argentine SMEs are seeking financing outside bank channels due to requirements, fees and waiting times. According to specialists, discounting checks and promissory notes in the capital market, guarantees from Reciprocal Guarantee Societies, asset tokenization and dollar staking for cash surpluses are gaining ground. The CNV enabled repo operations on deferred payment checks, promissory notes and SME electronic credit invoices, and Resolution 94/2026 incorporated blockchain into guarantees.
FinanceInternationalInfobaeOct 25AI
Users' League reports 7.2% increase in electricity tariffs in the Caribbean region
The Liga Nacional de Servicios Públicos Damnificados de la Costa Caribe reported that the kilowatt hour rose from $873 to $936 in October, an increase of $63 equivalent to 7.2%, which would be reflected in November bills for users in Atlántico, Magdalena and La Guajira, served by Air-e Intervenida. The organization linked the adjustment to the distributor's financial difficulties and questioned the additional charge under the CREG's Temporary Energy Saving Program.
FinanceColombiaEl TiempoOct 25AI
Banco de la República prepares for its next interest rate decision on October 30
Banco de la República is assessing the conditions needed to control inflation and support financial stability ahead of its next meeting, scheduled for October 30, which will be closely watched by markets, financial institutions and citizens with housing, consumer or vehicle loans. Interest rate decisions influence the cost of money and the pace of economic activity. Analysts will monitor inflation data, consumption and market expectations to interpret the decision.
FinanceColombiaDiario del SurOct 25AI
Wall Street loses patience with AI: Big Tech's billion-dollar investments put the market to the test
Wall Street awaits results from Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon with attention on how much they invest in artificial intelligence and when it will pay off. After Meta said it expects to raise its spending commitments by US$125 billion to US$825 billion, its stock fell 6.1%. Traders are retreating to Treasuries and the 10-year yield is back below 5% for the first time in a month.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 25AI