Poor business sentiment in Europe has led to a rapid worsening in growth forecasts as companies grapple with higher borrowing and wage costs. Disinflation provides some relief, but the reality is that firms have yet to fully adjust to higher real rates.

Italian NPL collections fell 11% month over month and were 22% and 15% lower than those registered in July 2022 and 2021. Low volumes partly reflect seasonality effects but also the relatively muted activity already observed in the first half of the year.

Wednesday, October 11th 2023 - 3:00 PM (CEST)

Bayer AG is in the market with a dual-tranche euro-denominated hybrid bond, having mandated lead underwriters to arrange investor calls yesterday.

The proposed update clarifies and refines Scope’s analytical approach.

BP PLC is in rude financial health notwithstanding Bernard Looney’s unexpectedly shortened tenure as CEO, but his successor may have to revisit vexatious questions about the oil and gas giant’s long-term strategy for addressing the energy transition.

The EU is in the vanguard of the global push to achieve net-zero by 2050. It has achieved this position while reining in excessive political zeal around climate change. Mandatory disclosure should not run too far ahead of on-the-ground corporate realities

In a European telecoms industry still dominated by former national monopolies such as BT, Deutsche Telekom, Orange and Telecom Italia, nationality remains important – which is why Saudi Telecom Co’s investment in Spain’s Telefónica raises many questions.

Stress-test for exposure to drought; chemicals sector faces significant ESG challenges; long-awaited ESG disclosure initiatives by the EU; more ESG-linked debt issuance; EU carbon pricing

Italian government proposal AC 843, aimed at supporting borrowers in financial difficulty by giving them the option to buy back exposures already sold to third parties through ABS or loan disposals, has created significant turbulence in the NPL market.