Latest news and stories about economic activity in finance in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
Spanish private banking and corporate consulting specialist Banca March is set to launch operations in Portugal in early 2027 with a new business centre in Lisbon's Praça Duque de Saldanha. As part of its centenary strategy, the lender upgraded its Luxembourg branch to a subsidiary, which will serve as the hub for marketing European investment solutions and meeting rising demand for cross-border wealth management.
The Portuguese Farmers' Confederation (CAP) has issued an urgent demand for a 140 million euro government support package to address rising production costs and restore competitiveness, warning that failure to act will lead to inevitable protests.
Friday's agenda features the parliamentary vote on labour reform, the conclusion of the European Council, new Bank of Portugal debt data, and a high-level debate between Portugal and France on European economic competitiveness.
Key events for Tuesday include a meeting on labour reform between Montenegro and Ventura, critical interest rate decisions from the Bank of Japan and the Fed, Eurostat labour data, the Portugal Capital Markets Day 2026, and updates on the insolvency of Sicasal.
Bankinter Portugal celebrates its tenth anniversary with a strategic goal to enter the top six banking institutions in the country by 2030, focusing on corporate lending, digital expansion, and market share growth.
European stock markets and the euro are experiencing declines as oil prices surge due to escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly in Iran. US oil prices rose by 8% to $72.40 per barrel, while Brent crude increased by 8.8% to $79.30 per barrel. Natural gas futures in Europe saw a significant rise of over 40% following a production halt by Qatar. Gold prices also increased by 1.2% as investors sought safer assets amid uncertainty. Wall Street opened lower, with the Dow Jones down 0.70%, the Nasdaq down 0.58%, and the S&P 500 down 1.09%. In Europe, while the Lisbon stock exchange remained relatively stable, major markets like Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris, and London faced notable declines. The euro fell to $1.1703, down from $1.1817, and also weakened against the pound and yen.
Portugal is seeking to enhance its appeal to Middle Eastern investors, particularly from Qatar, by shifting its marketing strategy beyond just its favorable climate. In Doha, representatives from Startup Portugal are engaging with local entrepreneurs to promote investment opportunities in the country.
The chief executive officer of BCP clarified today that the bank does not have a branch closure plan in progress, advocating for a 'balanced relationship' between the physical and digital worlds.
Commemorative events marking five decades of the European Investment Bank Group's operations in Portugal.
In a deal like the privatisation of TAP, which involves the sale of a state stake, it is common for governments to throw their institutional weight behind national champions competing for the operation. The CEO of Lufthansa stated, in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine, that Friedrich Merz's intervention was very important for...
The Portuguese government intends to boost the national economy by increasing the strategic importance and efficiency of its maritime ports.
CTT is facing strong selling pressure on the Lisbon stock exchange after JBCapital anticipated a profit warning from the company. The group fell as much as 7% this Tuesday, the steepest drop since last March, to a low of 5.11 euros. Since December 2024, shares of...
Portugal offers 'economic, financial, political and social predictability' to investors, stated the Secretary of State for the Economy, João Rui Ferreira, at a meeting with international business leaders from the insurance sector organised by Verlingue Portugal last Tuesday in Lisbon. For the government official, this characteristic can be an advantage for attracting foreign investment.
HORA Creative World has separated from an international group to independently pursue its brand strategy and business scaling efforts. Founded in 1927 and formerly part of McCann Portugal, the agency retains its 52-person team and leadership, now operating with full autonomy to define its strategy and market expansion. CEO Luís Pereira Santos highlights that this independence allows for faster decision-making and international growth in markets such as Spain, Brazil, the US, and Vietnam. The agency, which recently reported a 9% revenue growth to €9 million, plans to invest in talent and artificial intelligence to enhance its service offerings in branding, digital, and content.
The CIMPOR factory in Alhandra has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest cement plant still in operation. Construction of the facility began in 1890, with industrial activity commencing around 1894. Today, it remains a strategic site for the company, employing over 150 people and capable of producing 2.8 million tonnes of cement annually. Local officials and government representatives celebrated the achievement, noting the plant's resilience and its current focus on a 200-million-euro investment aimed at decarbonising production as part of a broader environmental transition.
Paula Franco attends a lunch-debate event hosted by the International Club of Portugal.
The government is meeting today with the social partners as part of the Social Dialogue, at a time when trade union confederations are calling for an upward revision of the The post Minimum wage: government meets social partners as unions push for more appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The Government is meeting this Wednesday with social partners in the Social Concertation Council to discuss the 2025-2028 wage valorisation agreement, the Labour Compensation Fund (FCT), and the status of the minimum wage following the 2027 State Budget proposal. While trade unions are pushing for higher increases than previously agreed due to inflation, employer confederations maintain that there are no plausible reasons for further raises, citing unfulfilled measures. The meeting will also address the potential extension of the deadline for the FCT, as a significant portion of the funds remains unclaimed by companies.
The president of the CIP criticized this Tuesday the 'noisy minority' responsible for housing protests, arguing that 'the street does not solve' problems and 'does not bring people together', while warning against the risk of 'playing with fire' for 'a vote' or 'a like'. Armindo Monteiro, speaking to journalists after a meeting at the Confederation of Portuguese Business (CIP) headquarters in Lisbon, argued that the solution to the cost of living crisis lies in economic growth and that Portugal is a poor country because it is not doing what is necessary to increase wealth. He called for a 'societal pact', contrasting a 'silent majority' of hard workers with the 'noisy minority' protesting in Porto and Lisbon. While acknowledging the courage of those sleeping on the streets in protest, he emphasized that solutions come through cooperation rather than confrontation, warning against the risks of social instability similar to recent events in France.
The Spanish banking group Banca March has announced plans to enter the Portuguese market by 2027.
The coordinator of the Common Front stressed the fact that the Government did not take into account the rising cost of living. The trade union structure has a plenary session scheduled for October 27th.
An initial report of the events at the Atlantic Convergence conference, which ended three days of activity in Lisbon on October 1, shows that the focus of attention this year The post Portugal’s AI and IT industries: a postscript appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The Lisbon District Court has decided to open an “Insolvency Qualification Incident” regarding the startup Unbabel, or what remains of it following the sale of its assets to the American company Transperfect. The decision was made on September 25th and effectively means that the judiciary will have to determine whether the insolvency was “culpable”.
Tiago Oliveira stated that there is a “lack of response” from the Democratic Alliance executive, demanding that “prices be limited.”
This Saturday morning, demonstrations with the same objective were held in the centres of Porto and Coimbra.
The CCILB is following a discussion in Lisbon regarding foreign investment and the strategic position of Portugal.
