Economy – The economy takes centre stage this week in the foreign press’s coverage of Italy. While Financial Times wonders about the future of Italian debt and signals the reduction of its cost, which has for some time been a “measure of political risk” (February 7 – Will a key measure of Italy’s political risk continue to fall?*), Bloomberg explains how investor “euphoria” over Mario Draghi’s appointment as Prime Minister has allowed the Treasury to consider issuing a 100-year bond (February 11, Draghi Euphoria Could Last a Century in Italy’s Bond Markets*). Other articles focus on corporate histories: this is the case of Intesa Sanpaolo which, as CEP Carlo Messina explains, is aiming to grow in wealth management (Bloomberg, February 8 – Intesa May Consider Deals in Wealth Management: CEO Messina*), and of Ferrero, whose turnover rose by 7,8% “despite virus” (Reuters, February 11 – Ferrero posts sweeter full-year sales despite virus). Reuters also devotes coverage to the strategies of EssilorLuxottica, which is aiming to win EU antitrust approval for the purchase of GrandVision (February 9 – EssilorLuxottica offers to sell stores to win EU okay for Dutch deal).
Culture – In culture, Financial Times publishes an interview with Maurizio Cattelan on the fascination the performer has for flags and their “magnetic attraction” (February 7 – How I Spend It: Maurizio Cattelan on the magnetic attraction of flags*), while The Guardian remembers Alberto Grimaldi, the Italian producer who worked on such famous films as Last Tango in Paris, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (February 10 – Alberto Grimaldi obituary).
Tourism and wine & food – On the tourism beat, El País, in collaboration with the Lonely Planet El País, pays a visit to Genoa, offering “excellent reasons to discover the city,” including “the historic centre, its splendid palazzi, and piazzas full of life” – in addition to focaccia and pesto, of course (February 11 – Grandes razones para descubrir Génova). As for wines, two publications focus on the Prosecco rosè that Italy has been sending out into the world (New York Times, February 8 – Meet the Proseccos You’ll Be Drinking This Summer*), proposing 8 labels that might become “Patron Saints of brunch” (Bloomberg, February 10 – Pink Prosecco Is the Fizz That’s Poised to Ride the Rosé Wave*).
*Article available for pay / at registration