Real estate company Gecina saw its focus on central Paris pay off in 2017, with buoyant demand driving the acquisition of rival office space owner Eurosic. Since then, Gecina has been busy cutting the cost of its debt as part of a long-term strategy, as David Wigan reports.
Following the sovereign debt crisis, Europe's funding safeguard was set up to ensure regional stability. While most countries no longer need propping up, the European Stability Mechanism is still busy, as head of funding and investor relations Siegfried Ruhl tells David Wigan.
With consumer confidence on the rise, unemployment at an eight-year low and investor perceptions changing for the better, Spain appears to be emerging from the economic doldrums. David Wigan reports on the forces driving the recovery and finds that – despite some reasons for caution – it appears to be gathering momentum.
French water service company Suez is planning a major global expansion through its tie-up with GE Water of the US. David Wigan reports on the details of the 70/30 joint venture with Canada’s Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, which included the use of hybrid bonds.
Emerging market currencies benefited handsomely from the US central bank’s huge quantitative easing programme. With that now being unwound and with China slowing, emerging currencies are now in retreat. Those from economies with weak fundamentals are especially vulnerable.