30 h. ago Fitch downgrades China’s sovereign debt over spending and tariffs

Beijing denounces ‘biased’ move by rating agency, insisting country’s economic foundations are stable

Economics

9 d. ago Rising debt and spending demands: the squeeze on Britain’s finances — in charts

UK gross government debt rose from 85.7% of GDP in 2019 to 101.8% in 2024

Economics

1 week ago Global rise in borrowing costs to blame for UK’s higher debt spending – Reeves

Rising borrowing costs are expected to eliminate the Chancellor’s headroom against her self-imposed fiscal rules.

Economics

2 w. ago German parliament's upper house gives final approval to huge defense and borrowing package

The prospective next German government’s plans to enable higher defense spending by loosening strict debt rules and to set up a huge infrastructure fund that’s aimed at boosting Europe’s biggest economy have cleared their final parliamentary hurdle with approval by the upper house

Politics

2 w. ago China Starts Marketing Debut Sovereign Green Bonds in London

China Starts Marketing Debut Sovereign Green Bonds in London  Bloomberg

Politics

3 w. ago Germany’s Greens vow to block Merz’s flagship spending package

Party officials reject €500bn infrastructure fund plan and change to debt borrowing rules to fund defence spending

Politics

3 w. ago Germany's prospective new government struggles to win support for defense, infrastructure plans

Germany’s Greens say they won't support the prospective next government’s plans to loosen debt rules for defense spending and draw up a huge infrastructure investment fund

Politics

4 w. ago Germany bond rout worst since fall of Berlin Wall as Merz promises to boost defences

Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz (pictured) outlined plans to exclude military spending from the country's stringent 'debt brake' rule to free up cash.

Politics

last month Germany's incoming Chancellor pledges to do 'whatever it takes' to boost the nation's defences and moves to lift 'debt brake'

Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz (pictured) outlined plans to exclude military spending from the country's stringent 'debt brake' rule to free up cash.

Politics

last month European markets soar as Germany moves to lift ‘debt brake’ and raise defence spending

Berlin’s ‘big bazooka’ proposal sends industrial stocks surging but fiscal sea change also hikes borrowing costsBusiness live – German debt ‘bazooka’ rallies stocks and euroEuropean financial markets have rallied sharply and German borrowing costs have soared after the country’s prospective leaders announced a historic deal to loosen its “debt brake” rule to boost spending on defence.The yield – in effect the interest rate – on 30-year German government bonds rose by about 25 basis points to 3.08% in its biggest daily increase since October 1998. Continue reading...

Economics

last month ‘A risky bet’: Friedrich Merz criticised over plan to lift Germany’s debt rules

Chancellor-in-waiting accused of taking part in ‘debt orgy’ after proposing loosening rules to boost defenceGermany’s chancellor-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, is facing a barrage of criticism from opposition politicians over his radical proposals to loosen rules on running up debt to allow for higher defence spending and boost the economy.The CDU/CSU leader’s proposals for a multibillion-euro package, agreed with his potential coalition partners the Social Democrats, have been described as everything from a “bazooka” to “an extremely risky bet” by economists. He himself has called them vital “in light of the threats to our freedom and peace on our continent”. Continue reading...

Events

last month European markets soar as Germany lifts ‘debt brake’ to raise defence spending

Berlin’s ‘big bazooka’ move sends industrial stocks surging but fiscal sea change also hikes borrowing costsBusiness live – German debt ‘bazooka’ rallies stocks and euroEuropean financial markets have rallied sharply and German borrowing costs have soared after the country’s prospective leaders announced a historic deal to loosen its “debt brake” rule to boost spending on defence.The yield – in effect the interest rate – on 30-year German government bonds rose by 16 basis points, after having earlier jumped by as much as 25 basis points to 3.07% in its biggest increase since October 1998. Continue reading...

Economics