The Portuguese state, through Parpública, alongside two Spanish groups, has increased its stake in REN (Redes Energéticas Nacionais) to contain Chinese influence in the energy infrastructure, aligning with U.S. strategic interests. The move follows the exit of the Chinese-backed insurance group Fidelidade from the company's capital.
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The Portuguese Water Academy is calling for an independent epidemiological study regarding the planned reactivation of the Borralha tungsten mine in Montalegre. The group warns that mining activities could contaminate water sources in the Cávado river basin, which supplies water to approximately 400,000 residents in Braga and Barcelos.
The national statistics institute (INE) confirmed that the year-on-year inflation rate reached 3.6% in September, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from August. This rise is largely driven by fuel prices, which saw a year-on-year increase of 15.3%, while food products saw a 3.7% increase.
The IMF reports that Portuguese household debt burdens have decreased and sovereign debt spreads against Eurozone benchmarks have narrowed. According to the IMF's latest Global Financial Stability Report, less than half of Portuguese home loans are currently on variable rates, leaving households less exposed to interest rate hikes, and the debt service ratio is now approximately 6%.