Business

26 new knowledge-intensive companies have set their offices in Barcelona’s 22@district over the first half of this year. The innovation district has more than 1,500 companies and increased its turnover by 5.4% against the 2008 census.

Thanks to this purchase, Sabadell United Bank, the US branch of the Catalan Banc Sabadell, significantly increases its size. Lydian Private Bank has assets worth 1,607 million dollars, client deposits of 1,224 million dollars and loans worth some 383 million. Sabadell is particularly strong in Florida, where it already has its US headquarters.

Catalonia consolidates its position as the first tourist destination within Spain, with 26% of all visits. International tourism within Catalonia increases in July by 5.1% compared to last year.

The Spanish Government temporary reduces the VAT on new flat’s purchase, asks the largest and profitable companies to advance money from their corporate tax, and obliges doctors to prescribe generic drugs and not brands. With all those measures, the Spanish Government expects to get 4,900 million extra euros until the end of the year.

French farmers have been protesting against their difficulties by destroying fruit and vegetables from Spain once they entered France to supply European markets. After last weeks angriness and frustration, Catalan farmers decide to answer back by offering, for one hour, their apples and pears for free to all the cars coming from France and explaining in four different languages the reason for their action.

The data corresponded to the end of June. The Spanish Statistics Institute confirmed the data, proving the prediction by the Bank of Spain of a slowdown in the economy.

The new mooring station to load and offload oil and other bulk liquids is designed for large ships. It will be the deepest of all the Western Mediterranean, including Northern Africa. 275-metre-long ships, weighting up to 175,000 tons and with a 15-metre-deep draft will be able to dock in Barcelona. Barcelona harbour aims at consolidating its leadership among all Mediterranean harbours regarding goods transportation, bulk and by container.

Farmers from Southern France have stopped lorries carrying Spanish fruit and vegetables across the Spanish border and have destroyed all of the produce. The Catalan Government asked the European authorities to intervene in the conflict, since the French police have not stopped the destruction. As a reaction, Catalan farmers threat to block French vehicles returning to France at the end of the month.

During July, inflation rates experienced their third consecutive month of decline. In the last 12 months, the cumulative price increase now stands at 3.2% in Catalonia. The drop of summer sales has helped to lower inflation.

Unnim’s profit is 8.7% inferior to the same period last year. The savings bank says the decrease is due to of the merger costs and the general economic situation. Unnim is the result of a merger announced last summer between three Catalan saving banks. Unnim failed in the last stress test’s worst scenario, but according to the Bank of Spain will not have to be rescued.

Barcelona-based Gas Natural Fenosa enlarges its capital with 515 million euros invested by the multinational North-African company, Société Nationale (Sonatrach).

The yields for Spanish 10 year bonds are well over 6% while economic growth remains slow

The yield on Spanish bonds reached 400 points more than German ‘bunds’, a record since the introduction of the euro

Catalonia and five other autonomous communities have had their long term rating downgraded whilst the Spanish state's credit rating comes under review.

Visitors from the United Kingdom were the highest contributors in June, spending 1229 million. Germans follow, with a total expenditure of 900 million euros while French tourists, with 514 million euros, increased their cumulative expenditure by a surprising 16.4%