The Lisbon Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Lisboa) closed up 1.71% at 9,245.67 points, reaching levels not seen since June 2008, Lusa reports via RTP. Gains in stocks such as NOS and Mota‑Engil drove the rise; investors should note recent volatility and consult advisers before trading.
The Lisbon Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Lisboa) is Portugal’s main securities market, run as part of the Euronext group and home to the PSI-20 benchmark index. Reports that it closed higher and returned to levels seen in 2008 matter for investors and savers, who should review portfolios and be aware that market moves can affect pensions and investments.
Lisbon has joined major European cities like Barcelona and Milan in rolling back tax incentives for digital nomads and restricting short-term rentals to address severe housing shortages and market saturation.
A BPI Vida e Pensões study reveals that while 63.3% of Portuguese citizens save for short-term emergencies, only 22.1% prioritize retirement planning, highlighting a significant gap in long-term financial security amid rising life expectancy.
An analytical look at the financial pressures of childcare costs in the UK, prompting a family to weigh the trade-offs of a significant salary reduction in exchange for a better work-life balance in Portugal.
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.
Reported house prices rose 16% year‑on‑year, but the data provided appears inconsistent: the body states prices reached €2,111 per square metre in Q3 last year, while the headline claims €5,000 per square metre in Lisbon. This likely reflects different measures or geographies (national average vs Lisbon city centre, asking vs transaction prices). Verify source breakdowns and timing; implications include tighter affordability, stronger expat/investor demand in Lisbon, and amplified regional divergence in the housing market.
The chief executive of Caixa Geral de Depósitos anticipates a decline in lending activity following the implementation of new regulatory requirements by the central bank.
Home loans increased by 42% year-on-year. In the first half of the year, the state-owned bank granted 2.5 billion euros to young people with state guarantees and paid 1.33 billion euros to the state in dividends and corporate income tax. During the results presentation in Lisbon, CEO Paulo Macedo highlighted the bank's best-ever semester, with profits rising 2.2% to 913 million euros. The bank also noted a significant increase in home loan approvals, which reached 740 million euros in June alone, a figure described as a historic milestone.
The country manager for Trade Republic outlines the company's goal to become the leading bank in Portugal within five years, noting that the firm has already established a local branch and provides national IBANs.
MSH, a company specialising in international health insurance and social protection solutions under Diot-Siaci, the largest French insurance brokerage group, has announced the opening of its first offices on the Iberian Peninsula, with operations in Lisbon and Madrid, as part of its expansion strategy in Southern Europe, reports the News Assurance website.
The Minister of Finance stated this Friday, June 19, that the Government will “move forward shortly” with the reform of tax justice, specifically with a review of tax rates. During a speech at the Franco-Portuguese Economic Conference in Lisbon, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento highlighted necessary measures to address the country's main constraints, namely in human capital, bureaucracy, and the labour market. Regarding fiscal simplification, he indicated that the reform of tax justice and tax litigation will proceed shortly, including a review of rates. Furthermore, he highlighted the reform of the State to “extinguish and reduce the number of entities, but above all to combat bureaucracy, and in those entities where” there is “perfect awareness that they are a bureaucratic problem, such as the APA [Portuguese Environment Agency], ICNF [Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests], IRN [Institute of Registries and Notaries], and CCDR [Commission for Coordination and Regional Development].” The minister also signalled the need to continue reducing marginal IRS (personal income tax) and IRC (corporate income tax) rates, noting that even though they are no longer the highest in the OECD, they are “still quite high.” For this year, Miranda Sarmento emphasized that, “despite all the difficulties,” it will be possible to achieve “growth of around 2% of GDP, well above the Eurozone average,” a balanced budget, and continued reduction of public debt. At this conference, focused on relations between Portugal and France, the minister listed examples of investments in Portugal, such as BNP Paribas and Natixis, projects which, as a whole, “are critical to the Portuguese economy.” The banking sector is “another success story,” he added, pointing out that “15 years ago the banks were in a very difficult situation; today they are resilient, well-capitalised, profitable, and proof of this was the purchase of Novo Banco by BPCE.” Miranda Sarmento: tax revenue shows that Portugal is doing better than people say. IRS and IRC reductions “are to be implemented,” guarantees the Secretary of State for the Budget.
The Minister of Finance reaffirmed this Monday the Government's intention to lower income tax (IRS) again, stating that a reduction in 2027 will only be decided after reviewing the performance of the economy and public accounts. During a conference in Lisbon, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento said that it is important to continue reducing...
The price of gold and silver recorded a drop of more than 2%, reaching new lows since mid-March, affected by the strengthening of the dollar and expectations of interest rate hikes. According to Bloomberg data, at 9:30 am in Lisbon, the troy ounce of gold was down 2.21% and was trading at 4,166.9...
In a study comparing 37 European capitals based on daily expenses and average net salaries, Lisbon emerges as the least affordable capital. For those living alone, expenses exceed 127% of the average salary in 2026.
There is significant frustration among US citizens regarding recent changes to the Nationality Law, which have now come into effect. Filipa Pinto Carvalho, co-founder of RedBridge Lisbon, notes that these changes may deter American investment, as the waiting period for nationality for non-Portuguese speaking investors has doubled from five to ten years. While the government, represented by Minister António Leitão Amaro, argues that investors were misled by consultants, several law firms are preparing legal challenges against the new legislation.
Changes to the Nationality Law have been a factor slowing down investment decisions from the US, admits RedBridge Lisbon co-founder Filipa Pinto Carvalho in an interview with Lusa. Created four years ago, RedBridge is a community of entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors that is consolidating itself as a platform...
The central bank is considering changes to the debt-to-income ratio requirements for mortgage loans, which may affect thousands of prospective homebuyers.
On the day the Prime Minister travels to Porto, where he meets with the mayors of Porto and Lisbon, the Bank of Portugal publishes its behavioural supervision report and the National Statistics Institute releases a survey on the financial situation of families for 2024. Also, Sonaecom presents its first-quarter results.
A surprise inspection by the European Commission identifies 14 serious flaws in the quality of human resources, equipment, and oversight carried out by the PSP at Lisbon Airport. Goucha loses a dispute of over one million euros with the tax authorities, and more than half of companies report delays in payments to suppliers. Discover the top news stories...
Bison Bank reported profits of 8.8 million euros in 2025, its highest to date and more than triple the 2.5 million euros recorded in 2024, the bank announced in a press conference on Wednesday, the 15th. The 2025 results were driven by the positive impact of deferred tax assets due to losses from previous years. Excluding this impact, recurring profit was 4.8 million euros. Bison Bank will pay dividends for the first time this year, amounting to 750,000 euros, to its sole shareholder, Bison Capital Holding Company Limited, based in Hong Kong, China. Regarding last year's accounts, the net interest margin was 9.1 million euros, up 20% from 2024, and banking commissions reached 8.3 million euros, an 80% increase. Structural costs rose 20% to 11.6 million euros in a year where the bank increased its headcount by 22, reaching 109 employees. Following the resolution of Banif, the Chinese holding company Bison Capital Financial purchased Banif Investimento in 2018 and rebranded it as Bison Bank. Headquartered in Lisbon, Bison Bank specializes in financial services for high-net-worth individuals. Bison Bank is undergoing a strategic reorganization and launching its first Portuguese stablecoin.
The management of Bankinter's Portuguese branch, inaugurated ten years ago, expects to continue growing at a double-digit rate. Loans to companies are a key focus. The bank expects to market a stable cryptocurrency.
The Constitution of the Republic turns 50 this Thursday, with Público highlighting that half of the Portuguese population identifies with it, while only 10% do not. A study by the IPPS-Iscte institute, authored by Pedro Adão e Silva and Isabel Flores, reveals that 58% of respondents believe the Constitution should be revised, particularly to criminalise illicit enrichment and reduce the number of MPs. Meanwhile, Jornal de Notícias and Correio da Manhã report that due to lower tax withholding rates, many taxpayers will receive smaller refunds or will have to pay additional income tax this year. Additionally, Correio da Manhã reports that former minister Mira Amaral was arrested by the police on suspicion of domestic violence at a clinic in Lisbon, an allegation he denies.
Sarmento claims victory, but knows he had the help of measures that have limits: salary increases return taxes to the State and the tax cut increases consumption. Editorial by Marta Moitinho Oliveira.
