Donald Trump has invested tens of millions of dollars in the purchase of shares (and bonds) of major American companies in the first quarter of the year, before these experienced spectacular rises in the markets following political decisions, thus fueling controversies about an alleged conflict of interest of the White House occupant.
The business sectors that pay their workers less than 27,500 euros per year, such as tourism, the meat industries, or home delivery services, “have impoverished” the whole Catalan society. This provocative idea is one of those that arise from the Fènix Report prepared by a group of seven Catalan economists who try to elucidate the reasons and consequences of low productivity.
The launch of ChatGPT in 2022 unleashed the rise of artificial intelligence and triggered a flood of warnings from industry leaders about a possible labor apocalypse. Although they have reasons to highlight the disruptive effect of their products, and despite employment in developed countries being near historic highs, the pessimistic message has taken hold. Seven out of ten Americans believe that artificial intelligence will make it harder to find a job; nearly a third fear for their own employment. The lack of opportunities for university graduates — especially computer programmers — increases concern.
El Banco de España is still immersed in a process of reflection, “the deepest in Europe,” about whether it is advisable to tighten the conditions for access to mortgage credit to avoid possible bubbles. Without yet making a decision, it has detected that this type of measure can “reduce the amount of home ownership and push more people towards renting,” said the Director General of Financial Supervision of the bank, Daniel Pérez Cid, during the presentation of the Spring Financial Stability Report.
The Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (Airef) has revised upwards the growth forecasts for the Spanish economy for the coming years, from 2027 to 2030. The reason is immigration. Foreign workers are making a significant contribution to the improvement of GDP and will continue to do so in the coming years, assures the regulator.
Catalonia functions as the great laboratory in housing policy in Spain and, as such, is subject to greater scrutiny regarding its consequences. It happened again this Monday with the publication of the Rental Housing Price Index prepared by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The data shows a figure that has surprised the sector: rental prices accelerated in 2024, the year in which the rent cap was introduced under the state Housing law.
Nissan is proposing a redundancy plan for 211 workers in Catalonia, affecting 37% of the 569 employees it has across the three centers it operates in the region. The Japanese car manufacturer informed the unions on Monday about the opening of a file that will impact all three facilities. This will involve minimizing activity at the El Prat spare parts center, the most affected with 110 out of 122 workers impacted, 90%. The unions fear that the center may end up closing. At the technical center in Barcelona and the functional areas center in El Prat, a quarter of the workforce is proposed to be cut, with 86 and 15 departures respectively.
The Godmar rectory, an architectural complex adjacent to the old church of Sant Sadurní, originally from the 13th century, restored in the 19th century and converted into a space for meetings and conventions, was the setting last Wednesday night for the final farewell to the until now…
Up to three candidates have applied so far (candidacies can be submitted until June 10) to preside over the DO Cava, succeeding Javier Pagés who has completed two terms. Once the 12 members of the new board are elected following yesterday’s elections, the presidency is expected to be decided on June 11. Marta Vidal made the announcement this morning, Friday, at the headquarters of the sector’s employers’ association in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, the Associació d’Elaboradors de Cava (Aecava), and later presented it to the staff of her cellars based in Vilobí del Penedès and to her grape suppliers. If she obtains enough votes, she will become the first woman to preside over the DO Cava since its founding in 1972.
The United States Court of International Trade ruled on Thursday against the latest global 10% tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, finding that they were not justified under a trade law from the 1970s.