Economy – This week, investments and strategies for company growth are the themes explored in the financial pages of the international press. One article, published in the Financial Times, described the increase in foreign investments in Italy in 2015 highlighting the record number of cross-border mergers and acquisitions worth some 50 billion dollars, also pointing out that Italian businesses were second only to their British counterparts when it came to acquisitions (March 23 – Record high merger and acquisition deals in Italy*).
Foreign groups are not the only businesses currently in investment mode however, and international press agencies also wrote about a broad band project interesting several Italian companies, with the 900 million Euro investment Metroweb is making in it that will extend Italy’s optic fiber network (Reuters, March 18 – Italy’s Metroweb to invest 900 mln euros to bring fibre network to 10 cities) and Enel’s intention to invest in this very project (Bloomberg, March 23 – Enel to Invest $2.5 Billion in Building Fiber Network in Italy). Meantime, the previous day, the Financial Times had already described how Italy’s largest utility company had increased its dividends (Italy’s Enel raises dividend on profit surge).
Ferragamo is also doing well with its increasing profits up to 11% (Reuters, March 17 – Ferragamo posts larger-than-expected 11 pct rise in core profit*).
Other news about Italian businesses dealt with the latest stock Exchange listing as that of the home-linen company, Mirabello Carrara (Reuters, March 22 – Mirabello Carrara shareholders approve listing on AIM Italia). Mergers in the banking sector were also covered, with the world’s leading financial papers writing about the union between BPM and Banco Popolare, (Reuters, March 18 – Italy’s BPM and Popolare to decide next week on merger plan; the Wall Street Journal, March 23 – Banco Popolare, Banca Popolare di Milano Agree to Merge*; and the Financial Times, March 24 – Banca Popolare di Milano and Banco Popolare agree merger deal*).
Culture – Italian culture attracted several mentions this week, particularly of a literary nature. The Financial Times wrote about Elena Ferrante, the Italian author whose hidden identity increases her reader’s interest in her work (March 18 – Elena Ferrante, a fake name behind a brilliant tale*), while El Mundo published an article that celebrated Natalia Ginzburg’s centenary birth, “the goddess of little things”, (March 22 – Natalia Ginzburg, diosa de las pequeñas cosas), whilst on the following day, the Frankfuerter Allgemeine Zeitung, wrote about another Italian icon author, Umberto Eco, whose last will and testament, in keeping with the man’s nature. “forbids” any formal conferences or conventions on his work for at least ten years after his death, (Bloß keine Konferenzen!).
Art was not forgotten this week, with the Wall Street Journal writing, about the “ambitious” exhibition in Forlì showing the work of legendary artist, Piero della Francesca (March 21 – ‘Piero della Francesca: Exploring a Legend’ Review*).
Tourism – Of note this week, was a piece in Les Echos suggesting a relaxing stay on Venice’s “Island of Roses” (March 18 – Le repaire : la tentation de Venise) and another, in El Mundo advising on which wines to choose to make the most of a holiday in Rome (March 22 – Los vinos de Roma).
*Article available for pay/ at registration