Finance

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
Debate over Colombia's 2027 minimum wage ranges from an 8% technical hike to more than 10%
Negotiations to set Colombia's minimum wage for 2027 will range between an increase close to 8%, based on inflation and productivity, and one above 10% due to political and union pressure. The Labor Ministry aims to bring economic variables back into the formula: 6.8% inflation and 1.2% productivity. Banco de Bogotá economists calculate an 8% technical increase and expect a final decision of 8.5%, which would put the minimum wage at about $1.89 million per month without transport allowance.
FinanceColombiaDiario del SurOct 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
Enka approves new bottle-to-bottle PET recycling plant and a solar project
Enka's Board of Directors approved investment in a third bottle-to-bottle PET recycling plant to produce EKO®PET resin, suitable for food contact, with a capacity of 16,500 tons per year. It also approved a solar energy project to partially supply its recycling plants. The investments exceed US$15 million. The company says the expansion responds to growing demand for food-grade recycled resin in Colombia and increases demand for recovered post-consumer bottles.
FinanceColombiaPortafolioOct 24AI
Colombia's central bank: 6.29% inflation and El Niño limit rate options
Annual inflation in Colombia stood at 6.29% in September, more than double the Banco de la República's 3% target, driven by food and regulated prices. The board raised rates by 25 basis points in a split vote: four in favor, two for holding and one for a 50-point hike. Rates have accumulated 300 basis points of increases since December 2025. The minutes warn that El Niño and higher oil and agricultural input prices could add further pressure on prices.
FinanceColombiaEl EspectadorOct 24AI
EU funds 60% of capex for a 10 MW tidal kite farm in Ireland
The European Union's Innovation Fund formalized financing to build a large-scale tidal power plant in Irish territorial waters. The grant will cover 60% of the project's total capital cost for a 10 MW nominal capacity facility using Minesto's tidal kite technology. Simply Blue Group will be the local partner for port logistics and integration with regional supply chains. Funds will be disbursed in stages tied to engineering, procurement and offshore installation milestones.
FinanceInternationalInspenetOct 24AI
ScottishPower completes an engineering maneuver at the East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm
ScottishPower Renewables, Iberdrola's British subsidiary, completed a complex engineering operation at the East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm in the North Sea. The maneuver involved positioning large-tonnage structures for the turbines, using heavy-lift vessels and offshore safety protocols. The company says the milestone advances construction and speeds up the timetable for connection to the British power grid.
FinanceInternationalInspenetOct 24AI
Anif expects Banco de la República to raise its rate to 12.50% in October
Anif's survey on the intervention rate shows that 13 of 19 corporations analyzed expect a 25-basis-point hike in October, from 12.25% to 12.50%, while six expect it to stay at 12.25%. Projections point to a divided decision on the board. The survey follows annual inflation of 6.29% in September, 229 basis points above the upper bound of the 4% target range.
FinanceColombiaPulzoOct 24AI
Colombia's 2027 minimum wage: technical formula points to 8% while political debate reaches 10%
Negotiations over Colombia's 2027 minimum wage begin with a technical formula of 8%, according to Banco de Bogotá economists, who project 6.8% inflation and 1.2% productivity. The bank forecasts an 8.5% increase, which would take the minimum wage to 1.89 million pesos without transport allowance, and Corficolombiana also proposes 8%. Labor Minister Natalia López will lead the concertation table after the 23% increase for 2026.
FinanceColombiaDiario del SurOct 24AI
The Cedears most traded by Argentines: bets on AI, Brazil and Bitcoin
According to BYMA's Daily Cedears Report dated October 22, the equity Cedears with the highest traded volume over the last 40 sessions were Micron (14.64%), Sandisk (7.78%), Nubank (5.32%) and Meta (4.53%). Micron recorded an average daily traded volume of more than ARS 34 billion. Among the most traded ETFs are SPY (21.28%), IBIT (11.99%) and EWZ (11.62%). Analysts attribute the interest to global artificial intelligence trends and portfolio diversification.
FinanceInternationalLa NaciónOct 24AI
Frasers Group takes control of Hugo Boss with a 50.08% stake
Frasers Group, the retail group of British billionaire Mike Ashley, raised its stake in Hugo Boss to 50.08% after buying another 198,666 shares at the price of its previous offer, for 7.63 million euros (US$8.6 million). As a result, the German brand becomes a subsidiary of the group that owns Sports Direct, Flannels and House of Fraser, and its earnings will be consolidated into Frasers' accounts. Boss closed Friday at 38.41 euros per share, with a market capitalization of just over 2.6 billion euros.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 24AI
Tubos Reunidos works council in Nanclares rejects the redundancy plan proposed by the insolvency administration
The works council of Tubos Reunidos Premium Threads (TRPT) in Nanclares de Oca rejected the insolvency administration's proposal to start negotiating a redundancy plan (ERE) for extinction, while the creditors' insolvency proceedings remain open and the sale of the group's productive units has not been resolved. According to the council, the plant only appears in a subsidiary offer and there is no firm buyer interest. The administration proposes the ERE, expects the sale to be clarified in December and offers a two-month temporary layoff scheme (ERTE) as an alternative, and warned there are no guarantees of wage payments from November 1.
FinanceInternationalORAINOct 24AI
Barclays to cut around 5,000 jobs by the end of 2026 as it adopts AI
Barclays announced it will cut around 5,000 jobs, 5% of its workforce, before the end of 2026 as part of its adoption of artificial intelligence. A spokesperson for the British bank said about 60% of the cuts affect support functions, including a reduction in software developers because AI makes its teams more productive. The group, which employed 93,000 people worldwide at the end of 2025, is seeking an "organizational simplification" and efficiency gains from technology.
FinanceInternationalFrance 24Oct 24AI
Moody's keeps France's rating at Aa3 with negative outlook
Moody's took no rating action on French debt on Friday and kept its rating at Aa3 with a negative outlook, according to SWI swissinfo.ch.
FinanceInternationalSWI swissinfo.chOct 24AI
Colombia's central bank projects stable interest rates and inflation under control
The board and technical team of Banco de la República presented their economic projection for the end of the year: inflation's convergence toward the target range would continue to open room for further easing of policy interest rates. The balance attributes price moderation to food, stabilized transport costs and orderly exchange-rate behavior. Business groups and analysts highlighted that a lower-rate environment would ease corporate financing and private investment.
FinanceColombiaDiario del SurOct 24AI
Colombia's TRM for Saturday, October 24, 2026, falls to 3,158.43 pesos per dollar
The representative market rate (TRM) in force this Saturday, October 24, 2026, is 3,158.43 pesos per dollar, according to Colombia's Financial Superintendency, a decrease of 26.58 pesos (about 0.83%) from 3,185.01 on Friday, October 23. At exchange houses, Bogotá posts the highest buying price at 3,141 pesos per dollar and Medellín the lowest selling price at 3,183. Cartagena has the widest spread (230 pesos) and Cúcuta the narrowest (50).
FinanceColombiaRevista SemanaOct 24AI
Halloween candy sales fall 6.7% in the US amid high cost of living and chocolate prices
Halloween candy sales fell 6.7% in the month ended October 17 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to NielsenIQ, which also reported an 11.7% drop in mid-September. The high cost of living and chocolate prices explain the slowdown: candy and chewing gum prices rose 44% over five years, versus 22.5% for food consumed at home. A gallon of regular gasoline averaged $4.29, almost 40% more than a year earlier.
FinanceInternationalTelemundo ChicagoOct 24AI