Analysis: Indices

In Europe, the IBEX is in pole position

Buoyed by strong economic fundamentals and a favorable sector composition, the Madrid Stock Exchange index has risen by 39% in 2025.

Trafigura's $600 million nickel fraud trial starts in London

LONDON -Trafigura's $600 million case against Indian businessman Prateek Gupta over fake nickel cargoes began at London's High Court on Monday, with the commodities trader saying it was the victim of...

Ukraine secures US LNG imports from Greece to cover winter needs

ATHENS/KYIV -Ukraine has secured imports of U.S liquefied natural gas from Greece to cover its winter needs from December through to March next year, Greek and Ukrainian officials said on Sunday...

Airbus says Middle East regional aircraft to more than double by 2044

DUBAI -Airbus expects the Middle East's regional aircraft fleet to more than double to 3,700 planes by 2044, an official said on Sunday. The European planemaker expects passenger...

Ukraine agrees on gas imports from Greece, Zelenskiy says

KYIV -Ukraine will receive gas imports from Greece to help cover its winter needs, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday, pledging to secure nearly 2 billion euros to offset Russian attacks on...

CMA CGM flags tough year ahead as shipping faces overcapacity, falling demand

PARIS -The container shipping industry is bracing for a challenging year as new vessels boost capacity while demand slows, French group CMA CGM said on Friday, citing early orders in 2025 driven by...

Babis offers path on business holdings to secure Czech PM post

PRAGUE -Czech populist ANO party leader Andrej Babis said he will announce how he will rearrange his business holdings just before being appointed as prime minister, hoping to clear objections by...

German lawmakers back measures to lower electricity costs

BERLIN -Germany's lower house of parliament passed two bills late on Thursday aimed at lowering electricity prices, which are among the highest in Europe and are a burden on industry and the wider...

Canada names proposed Ksi Lisims LNG project for fast-tracking

CALGARY -Canada said on Thursday it will add the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility to its major projects list for fast-tracking, a designation the company behind the project said makes it more likely...

Polestar's losses widen, aims to keep Nasdaq listing with reverse stock split

Polestar reported a wider third-quarter loss on Wednesday and said it would conduct a reverse stock split - reducing the number of its existing shares while increasing their value - in an attempt to...

What if Europe beats Wall Street in 2025?

The Stoxx 600 has set a new closing record and is now hot on the heels of the S&P 500 in 2025. Over the last ten years, it has outperformed its American rival only twice.

Global wine output subdued by climate shocks, OIV says

PARIS -Global wine production rose slightly in 2025, but output remained below average for a third consecutive year as vineyards faced extreme and volatile weather, the International Organization of...

Data centres to drive energy storage 'boom cycle' in next five years, UBS says

BEIJING -AI data centre-fuelled power demand growth in the U.S. is likely to drive a boom cycle for energy storage in the next five years as more storage is needed to smooth out fluctuations from...

Why are multilateral development banks under pressure to reform?

BELEM, Brazil -The World Bank and other multilateral development banks are under pressure to offer more help to poor countries being hammered by energy challenges and climate disasters. Here is what...

UK to ban maritime services for Russian LNG exports

LONDON -Britain plans to ban companies from providing services such as shipping and insurance for Russian liquefied natural gas exports, in its latest attempt to help Ukraine in its war against...

Mercedes-Benz South Africa CEO-designate resigns

Mercedes-Benz South Africa said on Monday CEO-designate Abey Kgotle has resigned for personal reasons, less than a month before he was set to take on the role. Kgotle, who joined...

Aluminium premium hits record in US on tariffs, global squeeze

LONDON -Premiums for consumers buying aluminium on the physical market in the U.S. have hit record highs, driven by steep import tariffs and tight supplies globally. President Donald...

Petronas, Enilive, Euglena start construction of new biorefinery in Malaysia

A joint venture between Malaysia's Petronas, Italy's Eni biofuel unit Enilive and Japan's Euglena said on Monday it started building a new biorefinery in Malaysia to produce sustainable fuels for the...

France's 2025 wine output forecast at historic lows for second year

PARIS -France's farm ministry on Friday raised its projection for this year's wine output to 36.2 million hectolitres, which makes it unchanged from last year's historically low output, as a summer...