Browsing: Business

– The Bank of Italy has upgraded its projection for the country’s gross domestic product, now expecting a 1% growth in 2026, surpassing previous estimates. The outlook indicates a slowdown to 0.7% in 2027, followed by a modest increase to

– The World Trade Organization has upgraded its 2026 forecast for worldwide merchandise trade growth to 3.9 percent, a notable rise from the 1.9 percent projection issued in March. The organization attributed this positive revision to robust first-half trade performance,

– As a result of France and Germany’s appeal, the European Commission is moving towards establishing a more agile trade protection mechanism aimed at addressing significant market disruptions. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented their proposal

– The UK five-year fixed mortgage rates hit 6.00% on October 5, marking levels last observed approximately three years ago. Meanwhile, the average two-year fixed rate climbed to 5.98%, reaching its highest point since mid-December 2023. This uptick was noted

– Russia anticipates its 2026 grain harvest will reach approximately 140 million tonnes as farmers enter the final phase of the season. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev stated that farmers have already gathered over 126 million tonnes of grain, with

– Euro area unemployment persisted at 6.4% in August 2026, remaining unchanged from July, according to Eurostat. The rate was 6.3% in August 2025. Meanwhile, the European Union maintained a 6.1% unemployment rate for a second consecutive month, compared to

– European Union house prices increased by 4.7% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. During the same timeframe, rents grew by 3.0%, further extending their upward trend across the bloc. Eurostat also noted

– Russia has outlined a plan to reach an annual coal output of 662 million tonnes by 2050, as part of a recently approved industry development initiative. This target is incorporated into Russia’s revised coal expansion strategy, with current production

Moody Ratings has affirmed the European Union top AAA credit rating with a stable outlook, confirming that the 27-nation block maintains the highest degree of creditworthiness supported by its strong institutional framework and robust fiscal commitments from key member states.

– The government of Portugal has formally approved a significant capital investment of roughly 420 million euros aimed at expanding public transportation networks, including municipal light rail and bus rapid transit systems in the northern metropolitan area. The decision grants