Finance

Naturgy earns 1.758 million through September, up 5.4%, on regulated business and gas cycles
Naturgy posted a net profit of 1.758 billion euros between January and September, up 5.4% from the same period in 2025, as reported to the CNMV. EBITDA reached 4.380 billion (+4%) and revenue 15.374 billion (+5.4%), with net debt of 12.307 billion. The company attributes the results to the performance of regulated activities and thermal generation, and raised its guidance for the year: EBITDA above 5.600 billion and net profit of around 2.200 billion.
FinanceInternationalCinco DíasOct 29AI
Naturgy posts 5.4% higher profit and targets record 2.2 billion euros in 2026
Naturgy reported a net profit of 1.758 billion euros in the first nine months of the year, up 5.4% from the same period a year earlier. Revenue reached 15.374 billion euros (+5.4%) and Ebitda 4.380 billion (+3.9%). The group raised its 2026 targets: Ebitda above 5.6 billion, net profit of around 2.2 billion and net debt below 13 billion. It also confirmed investment capacity of up to 12 billion for potential corporate transactions.
FinanceInternationalValencia PlazaOct 29AI
Inditex, Santander and Mapfre bring dividends back to the Ibex 35 in November
Three Ibex 35 companies have confirmed a dividend payment in November, according to the BME calendar. Inditex and Banco Santander will pay on Monday the 2nd: the Zara parent will distribute 0.875 euros gross per share in two tranches and the bank 0.127 euros gross. Mapfre will pay an interim dividend of 0.08 euros gross per share on Thursday the 26th. In October, BBVA was the only company in the index to pay a dividend.
FinanceInternationalFinectOct 29AI
Banco Sabadell posts 1.376 million profit through September, down 1%
Banco Sabadell closed the first nine months of the year with a net profit of 1.376 billion euros, down 1% year on year, including the contribution of TSB, which was part of the group for four months. Excluding TSB —sold to Banco Santander on May 1— and extraordinary items, recurring profit was 1.096 billion, down 5.3%. The bank announced a cash dividend of 7 cents per share, payable on December 29, totaling 325 million, in addition to the 331 million buyback launched in July.
FinanceInternationalValencia PlazaOct 29AI
Hyundai beats profit estimates on US and India demand, but cuts 2026 targets
Hyundai Motor reported third-quarter operating profit of 2.68 trillion won (about US$2 billion), up 5.5% and above analyst estimates of 2.61 trillion. The result was supported by its best-ever third quarter in the US and a 9.5% rise in retail sales in India. Revenue fell 3.4% to 45.1 trillion won. The company lowered its 2026 sales target to 4 million vehicles and cut its annual investment plan by 10%, to 16 trillion won.
FinanceInternationalBloomberg LíneaOct 29AI
Vontobel launches global credit fund focused on investment grade
Vontobel has launched the Vontobel Fund – Credit Opportunities Investment Grade, expanding its fixed-income offering with a strategy focused on high-quality global credit. The fund builds on the asset manager's Credit Opportunities approach and responds to client demand for a solution combining investment grade issuers with active management. It invests globally in investment grade issuers and seeks relative value opportunities in senior and subordinated debt, with the option to selectively invest in subordinated instruments rated below investment grade.
FinanceInternationalFunds SocietyOct 29AI
Indra posts 22% higher profit through September and doubles its order book to 22.165 billion on Defense
Indra earned 355 million euros between January and September, up 22% year on year, while its order book doubled to 22.165 billion, driven by Defense, according to accounts filed with the CNMV. Revenue reached 4.645 million, nearly 29% more than the 3.611 million in the same period a year earlier. Ebit stood at 454 million (+42.4%) and ebitda at 657 million (+62.2%). The group ended September with a positive net cash position of 1.192 million.
FinanceInternationalExpansiónOct 29AI
BBVA earns 9.066 billion euros through September, up 13.6%, with 22% profitability
BBVA posted a record profit of 9.066 billion euros through September, up 13.6%, according to Expansión. Excluding the exchange-rate impact, the increase would be 11.4%. Results are supported by higher revenue, especially net interest income in a rising-rate environment, and by faster growth in the loan book driven by corporate activity, which offsets higher costs and provisions. Return on equity (Rote) closed at 22%, versus 22.2% in June.
FinanceInternationalExpansiónOct 29AI
European stocks point higher despite AI doubts and ahead of the ECB
EuroStoxx 50 futures point to a positive open in Europe, while doubts persist over whether spending on artificial intelligence will pay off, following the latest corporate results. In Asia, South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.7% and China's Shanghai Composite dropped 1.2%, with Alphabet plunging nearly 10% after hours and Microsoft rising nearly 3%. Brent crude corrects more than 1%, to $113 a barrel. Investors await the ECB decision and results from Amazon and Intel.
FinanceInternationalCinco DíasOct 29AI
United States braces for midterm elections amid inflation and the war with Iran
The United States faces the November 3 midterm elections with annual inflation at 3.7% in September, amid an unpopular war and a climate of discontent. Polls suggest a setback for the governing party, and Democrats are expected to retake the House of Representatives. Republicans are concentrating resources in a few states that could decide the Senate. The cost of food, fuel and energy, attributed to the war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, is among the main economic causes of the discontent.
FinanceInternationalEl ColombianoOct 29AI
Proposals to avoid a new blackout: energy security panel and a plan for Air-e
At the hearing on the energy crisis held by the Senate's Fifth Commission in Barranquilla on Friday, October 23, proposals were put forward for the Caribbean region and the country: create a national energy security panel for 2026-2027 with a public inventory of available energy, carry out an accelerated plan to unlock transmission and distribution connections, and define a financial and operational path to stabilize Air-e without passing its imbalances on to users. The application of article 3.3 of Law 142 of 1994 was also requested.
FinanceColombiaLa RepúblicaOct 29AI
ECB decides Thursday whether to hold rates at 2.50% as markets look to December
The European Central Bank meets this Thursday, October 29, to decide whether to keep the deposit facility rate at 2.50%, after September's 25-basis-point hike. Markets expect a pause and are focused on Christine Lagarde's press conference and the December meeting, when new projections will be published. Eurozone inflation rose to 3.8% in September, driven by energy, while core inflation held at 2.5%.
FinanceInternationalFinectOct 29AI
ECB meets with eyes on France and Lagarde's future
The ECB holds its meeting this Thursday with markets not expecting any change in interest rates, amid 3.8% inflation in September and rising sovereign debt yields. The focus will be on how Christine Lagarde addresses France's risk premium, at its highest since 2011 with the 10-year bond at 4.92%, and questions about a possible early exit from her post.
FinanceInternationalEL PAÍSOct 28AI
Telefónica rivals warn that deregulating ducts will make Internet 1.5 euros a month more expensive
Spanish alternative operators are asking the CNMC to reject Telefónica's proposal to replace regulation of wholesale access to its civil infrastructure (the MARCo offer) with voluntary commitments lasting five years. They argue the plan implies a cumulative 116% increase over five years and would raise the cost of fibre access for end customers by 1.50 euros a month. Telefónica estimates a maximum increase of 8 cents, to 16 cents per line per month, and says its rates remain below 2011 levels.
FinanceInternationalCinco DíasOct 28AI
AFME reports 67 GW of access requests to Spain's distribution grid, tied to housing and industry
The Association of Electrical Material Manufacturers (AFME) puts access requests to the electricity distribution grid at 67 GW, mainly from new residential and industrial developments. Its 2026 Sector Report warns that the lack of available capacity threatens the energy transition and calls for mobilising public and private investment. The new framework under Royal Decree 640/2026 would allow up to 17.9 billion euros to be mobilised between 2027 and 2030 for transmission and distribution grids.
FinanceInternationalEl EspañolOct 28AI
Investor Nelson Peltz launches bid to buy Wendy's at $7.35 per share
Wendy's shares rose 15% on Wednesday after investor Nelson Peltz made an offer to buy the burger chain. Trian Fund Management, his firm, and several partners are offering $7.35 per share in cash, a premium of nearly 19% over Tuesday's closing price. Trian holds 16.3% of Wendy's, whose same-store sales have declined for more than two years. The company declined to comment and will report results next week.
FinanceInternationalLos Angeles TimesOct 28AI
Pomelo CEO: the fintech aims to operate in 150 countries with dollar cards and stablecoins
Gastón Yrigoyen, CEO of Pomelo, said the fintech entered a "second act" after its latest u$s55 million round in December, with u$s160 million raised across four rounds. The company has about 300 people, operates in eight countries and serves 150 clients, including BBVA, Santander, Banco Colombia and BCI. Its plan expands the original thesis: it launched a "global card" denominated in dollars or digital dollars that can be issued to users in 150 countries and is moving into account-to-account payments and stablecoins.
FinanceInternationalAmbitoOct 28AI
Grenergy closes USD 457.5 million financing for solar and BESS projects in Chile
Grenergy closed a USD 457.5 million senior non-recourse financing, under New York law, for photovoltaic and BESS storage infrastructure in Chile. The deal, arranged and subscribed by BNP Paribas with BBVA, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, MUFG Bank, Banco Santander and Scotiabank, refinances the Palmas cluster of 21 PMGD projects and funds the fifth phase of Oasis de Atacama. According to the company, it is its largest debt transaction and brings its non-recourse financing raised in Chile above USD 2.4 billion. It closed on October 10.
FinanceInternationalLexLatinOct 28AI
ETB refinances USD 285.83 million debt with four banks to extend maturities
Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogotá (ETB) refinanced its financial debt with Davibank, Itaú Colombia, Bancolombia and Banco Santander Colombia for 900,000 million pesos (about USD 285.83 million). The operation does not increase ETB's debt level: it extends the average life of the debt from three to five years and adds a two-year grace period on principal payments. According to the advisors, it will free up about COP 723,000 million (around USD 229.53 million) for investment and its transformation plan.
FinanceColombiaLexLatinOct 28AI
YPF signs USD 400 million loan with Itaú Unibanco to finance YPF Luz purchase
YPF, Argentina's main energy and hydrocarbons company, signed a USD 400 million corporate term financing agreement with Itaú Unibanco (Nassau branch) to finance part of its acquisition of 24.99% of the capital of YPF Energía Eléctrica (YPF Luz). The agreement was signed on October 8 and closed on October 13, with Banco Itaú Chile acting as administrative agent. The sale was completed on October 14 for USD 430 million, as part of the expansion strategy ahead of YPF Luz's stock market listing.
FinanceInternationalLexLatinOct 28AI