Investors are revising strategies to capitalise on the potential strengthening of the pound (GBP) in the wake of a Labour victory in the UK election on July 4 and increasing political uncertainty in Europe, according to the CEO of one of a leading independent financial advisory and fintech. A Bloomberg survey on Monday suggested that … Read more
Fitch has raised the sovereign credit rating for Cyprus by a notch, with the country’s president saying this is a “vote of confidence” and a reward for maintaining a resilient economy. The rating agency said it upgraded Cyprus from ‘BBB’ to ‘BBB+’, which indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. According to Fitch, … Read more
Gold traders and investors expected the European Central Bank to cut interest rates by 25 basis points for the first time since 2019 in its meeting on Thursday, making it the first reversal in the bank’s hawkish monetary policy in five years. The Euro and the equities markets in Europe had already priced a major chunk of … Read more
Cyprus has the third highest proportion of new voters for the upcoming MEP elections among member states, with 8.7% of citizens entitled to vote for the first time.
Reflect Festival, Cyprus’ flagship tech and startup festival, returned to Limassol and welcomed 9,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and tech enthusiasts in a new venue. The event marked the biggest conference ever organized in Cyprus and the most international year of Reflect so far. Attendees from 70 countries participated, including 1,500 companies and 130 governmental representatives from 20 countries. The festival featured over 150 companies in the expo, with activities like holograms, augmented reality garments, and contests. The event also included parties, sports events, and side activities around Limassol. Reflect Festival announced the launch of The Doers Company as an umbrella organization behind the event and future activities.
The eurozone manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 47.3 in May from April’s 45.7, showing new orders declined at their slowest pace in two years.
Sihame Denguir enrolled her teenage son and daughter in France’s largest Muslim private school, Averroes, in Lille, which lost government funding due to not complying with secular principles.
Toyota has showcased next-generation engines at a media event with Subaru and Mazda, including 1.5 litre and 2.0 litre engines with reduced volume and height. The three companies aim to optimize integration with motors, batteries, and other electric drive units. The new engines will be compatible with alternative fuel sources such as e-fuels and biofuels. Toyota’s new 1.5 litre engine will achieve a 10% reduction in volume and weight compared to existing engines, while the new 2.0-litre turbo engine will have similar gains. Toyota is following a “multi-pathway” approach to carbon neutrality, with nearly two-fifths of its vehicles sold in January-March being petrol-electric hybrids. EVs are expected to reach a global market share of 30%, with hybrids, hydrogen fuel-cell, and fuel-burning vehicles making up the rest.
Aircraft shortages have allowed airlines like Frontier Airlines and Wizz Air to sell new planes to leasing companies at higher prices than they paid, resulting in gains of hundreds of millions of dollars. The tight airliner market has made sale-and-leaseback transactions more attractive, with US airlines accounting for a larger share of these deals. New aircraft prices are 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels, leading to soaring lease rates. Airlines are spending 30% more on aircraft leases than before the pandemic.
Germany and Europe are preparing for two significant events: the European Parliament elections and the UEFA EURO 2024 football tournament in Germany. The German Ambassador to Cyprus expressed concern about the rise of right-wing parties in the elections and emphasized Germany’s support for a solution to the Cyprus issue based on UN resolutions. Germany aims to host EURO 2024 as a symbol of cohesion in Europe, promoting sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. Germany also advocates for a strong and united EU, despite facing challenges like Putin’s war in Ukraine. The 2004 enlargement of the EU serves as a lesson on the importance of unity and speaking with one voice in foreign policy. Germany’s proposals for EU decision-making reform aim to ensure the Union remains capable of action. Germany is committed to supporting Cyprus in finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue, emphasizing the importance of confidence-building between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities.