Bulgaria's gross external debt at the end of February, according to preliminary data, amounted to EUR 47.8566 billion (43.8 percent of estimated GDP), which is EUR 4.2163 billion (9.7 percent) more than at the end of February 2024 (EUR 43.6403 billion, 42.1 percent of GDP). According to BNB data, at the end of February, short-term liabilities were EUR 8.5583 billion (17.9 percent of gross debt, 7.8 percent of GDP). They increased by EUR 1.1319 billion (15.2 percent) on an annual basis (EUR 7.4263 billion, 17 percent of debt, 7.2 percent of GDP). Long-term liabilities amounted to EUR 39.2983 billion EUR (82.1 percent of gross debt, 36 percent of GDP) at the end of February, increasing by EUR 3.0844 billion (8.5 percent) compared to the end of February last year (EUR 36.214 billion, 83 percent of debt, 34.9 percent of GDP). As of the end of February, EUR 29.9528 billion (62.6 percent) of gross external liabilities had a residual maturity of more than one year. 77.9 percent of gross external liabilities were denominated in euros, compared to 80.8 percent a year earlier.

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 8,121 people, or 0.13%, to 6,437,360 people compared to the previous year, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) reports. The process of population decline and aging continues, the number of people of working age is decreasing, the total mortality rate remains high. The number of live births is decreasing, while infant mortality is decreasing at the same time. In 2024, there were 3.095 million men in Bulgaria (48.1%), and 3.342 million women (51.9%), or 1,080 women per 1,000 men. At the end of 2024, there were 1.544 million people aged 65 and over, or 24% of the country's population. Children under 15 years of age in the country are 901,843, or 14% of the total population at the end of 2024. The aging of the population over the years leads to an increase in its average age, which increases to 45.3 years at the end of 2024. The average age of the population in cities is 44.5 years, and in villages - 47.6 years. The working-age population for 2024 is 3.765 million people, or 58.5% of the country's population. For comparison, the working-age population at the end of 2023 is 3.769 million people. At the end of 2024, there are 1.7 million people over working age, or 26.4%, and 971,000 people under working age, or 15.1% of the country's population. At the end of 2024 4.744 million people live in cities, or 73.7%, and 1.693 million people live in villages, or 26.3% of the country's population. There are 5,256 settlements in Bulgaria, of which 257 are cities and 4,999 are villages. There are 199 uninhabited settlements. There are six cities in the country with a population of over 100,000 people, which are home to 35.5 percent of the country's population. Last year, 53,727 births were registered in the country, of which 53,428 (99.4%) were live births. Compared to the previous year, the number of live births decreased by 3,769, or 6.6 percent. The total mortality rate remains high. The number of deaths in 2024 is 100,736, and the total mortality rate - 15.6% at 15.7‰ for 2023. Compared to the previous year, the number of deaths decreased by 270, or 0.3 percent. In 2024, 52,189 people changed their usual place of residence from abroad to Bulgaria, of which 51.5% are citizens of countries outside the European Union, 34.9% have Bulgarian citizenship, and 13.6% are citizens of EU countries. Among those who came to live in the country, 16% are in the age group 0 - 14 years, 72.9% are aged 15 - 64 years, and 11.1% of immigrants are 65 and over. The highest share of immigrants is from Turkey (21.8%), Ukraine (16.6%) and Syria (10.5%). As a result of negative natural growth, the country's population decreased by 47,308 people last year.

Sutherland Global Services Bulgaria is exploring the possibility of opening an office in Ruse. The company is among the leading providers of business services and outsourcing solutions with over 17 years of presence on the Bulgarian market and over 1,600 employees. It currently operates through offices in Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas, as well as in remote mode. As part of the expansion strategy, Ruse is considered a potential new location, with the possibility of creating over 150 jobs in the first year of operation.

A panel of the Administrative Court - Ruse annulled a revision act of the Customs Agency against Lubrika Ltd. The act, confirmed by a decision of the Director of the Customs Agency of November 18, 2024, imposed excise duties on the company in the amount of BGN 495,241.41 and interest of BGN 171,511.70. The revision act was annulled after an appeal was filed by Lubrika Ltd. The court's decision can be appealed with a cassation appeal before the Supreme Administrative Court. Dunavmost

Elana Agrocredit JSC will distribute a dividend to shareholders in the amount of BGN 0.0595056818 per share gross and will launch a procedure for the repurchase of its own shares. The regular annual general meeting of the company is scheduled for June 3, 2025 in Sofia. The total amount to be paid to shareholders amounts to nearly BGN 2.8 million. The remainder of the profit in the amount of almost BGN 86.8 thousand will be attributed as retained earnings. Shareholders will also vote to repurchase up to 10% of the total number of shares issued by the company for a period of up to 5 years. The price range is BGN 0.9-1.1 per share. The remaining parameters and the investment intermediary will be determined by the board of directors at a later stage. Elana Agrocredit reported a 5% increase in net profit to nearly BGN 2.9 million. leva for 2024 compared to over 2.7 million leva for 2023. According to the statute, 90% of the company's profit is distributed as a dividend. For 2023, the company distributed a dividend of 0.0729 leva per share, which is 98% of the profit. The company finances agricultural producers against a pledge of agricultural land. The land is owned by Elana Agrocredit until the loan is repaid. The interest on the company's loans is 8.5% per annum, and the term is 10 years.

The realized revenues from courier services in 2024 of the Speedy Group amount to BGN 518.2 million, which is an increase of 12.7 percent on an annual basis. These services also include revenues from commissions on money transfers, which reach BGN 7.8 million or a growth of 13 percent compared to 2023 due to an increase in the number and value of cash on delivery shipments. The increase is due to the larger number of processed shipments by 11.1 percent over the previous year to 80.9 million pieces (for comparison, 72.8 million pieces in 2023) and is commensurate with the rate of revenue growth. The company's net profit decreases by 15.8 percent to BGN 33.2 million in 2024.

The financial result of Allianz Bank Bulgaria JSC for last year is a profit of BGN 57.45 million. The bank reports a total net operating income of BGN 129.9 million. Its interest income is BGN 117.04 million, and interest expenses are BGN 20.63 million. Its shareholdings have brought it dividends of BGN 184 thousand. Income from fees and commissions of BGN 37.27 million was also reported, while expenses for fees and commissions are BGN 5.41 million. And administrative expenses for the activity amount to BGN 42.29 million. The bank has granted loans and advances for a total of BGN 2.84 billion, of which BGN 2.02 billion is in BGN, and BGN 634.94 million is in EUR. The interest income that the credit institution received was 104.91 million leva. The funds invested in deposits in Allianz Bank Bulgaria totaled 3.78 billion, of which 2.47 billion were in leva and 1.09 billion in euros. The bank paid interest to depositors totaling 12.35 million leva. Allianz Bank Bulgaria is managed by a Supervisory Board consisting of: Dimitar Georgiev Zhelev – Chairman, Christoph Plein, Raymond Siemer, Rainer Franz, Petr Sosik and Georgi Emilov Enchev. Operational management is entrusted to Georgi Kostadinov Zamanov – CEO, Hristina Marinova Martsenkova – Executive Director, Lyuba Georgieva Pavlova – Executive Director, and Yordan Marinov Suvandzhiev. Allianz Bulgaria Holding JSC controls 99.9% of the capital of Allianz Bank Bulgaria JSC.

Spain’s economy grew by 3.2% last year, almost four times the eurozone average, while France grew only slightly and Germany shrank. The IBEX 35 index, which tracks Spain’s largest public companies, rose by 14.8%, one of the best performers among Europe’s leading stock indexes. The tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic, welcomed a record 94 million visitors to a country of 48 million. Forecasts suggest that this year will reach 100 million. Tourism contributes 13% to GDP directly and 20% indirectly through spending on restaurants, transport and retail. Two big factors are working in Spain’s favor. The first is cheap electricity, with prices almost as low as in America. Twenty years ago, Spain imported 50% of its electricity. Today, it has achieved a high degree of self-sufficiency through the use of solar, wind and hydropower. According to BBVA, the share of renewables in electricity generation has increased from 45% in 2021 to 65% in 2024, leading to a 20% drop in electricity prices. Achieving the government’s target of 80% by 2030 would mean a further drop of around 20%, according to the bank’s forecasts. The second advantage that business leaders point to is migration. Over the past 12 years, Spain’s population has grown from around 46 million to 49 million; over the past six years, the foreign workforce has grown by 1.2 million. Perhaps because most of the new arrivals speak Spanish and have a similar culture, migration has not led to the same political tensions as in other countries. Vox, the far-right party, campaigns on culture wars (such as abortion) rather than anti-immigrant sentiment. The high level of migration is expected to continue, but it has fueled demand for housing, which already exceeds supply. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid and around 40 other cities in early April to demand affordable housing. A report by the Bank of Spain found that almost 40% of families who rent spend more than 40% of their income on rent. Rents have doubled in the past ten years, while wages have risen by just 20%. Spanish businesses are not immune to other problems seen in other parts of the continent. They need to boost investment and productivity. Private investment is still below 2019 levels. The low flow of business investment is weighing on productivity if firms do not invest, for example, in the latest technology. Productivity growth has averaged just 0.2% over the past ten years, well below the OECD average of 0.9%.

Global military spending reached $2.72 trillion (2.5% of global GDP) in 2024, a 9.4% increase in real terms compared to 2023 and the sharpest annual increase since at least the end of the Cold War, according to data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military spending increased in all regions of the world, with Europe and the Middle East experiencing particularly rapid growth. The five largest military spenders – the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India – accounted for 60% of the global total, or $1.63 trillion. European military spending (including Russia) rose by 17% to $693 billion and was the main contributor to the global increase. Russian spending rose by 38% to $149 billion. (7.1% of Russian GDP and 19% of all Russian government spending), while Ukraine's increased by 2.9% to $64.7 billion - representing 34% of the country's GDP and the highest share of military spending in the world. Germany's military spending increased by 28% to $88.5 billion, and Poland's by 31% to $38.0 billion. In the Middle East, Israel's military spending rose by 65% ​​to $46.5 billion in 2024, the largest annual increase since the Six-Day War in 1967, reaching the second highest share in the world at 8.8% of GDP.

Chinese oil traders are putting aside concerns about the long-term economic damage from the trade war with the United States as they seek to capitalize on one of the short-term consequences: lower crude prices. Its imports rose sharply in March and continued to accelerate in April as analysts say the country replenishes stocks - despite expectations that a weaker global economy will reduce demand, the FT writes. China is the world's largest oil importer and a major market for oil, squeezed by other markets including Russia, Iran and Venezuela. Since the beginning of April, purchases of crude from the Islamic republic have been more limited due to Washington's decision to impose sanctions on a Chinese private refinery over such deals. However, experts say imports will not completely stop because many of these refineries operate at extremely low margins and would go bankrupt without cheap Iranian oil - and the lack of a direct connection to Western financial systems significantly reduces the effect of any US restrictions. The country imports nearly 11 million barrels per day, the highest level in 18 months. For comparison, in January imports averaged 8.9 million barrels per day. The reason can be found in the announcement of Trump's tariffs and OPEC's decision to increase production - so the price went to a 4-year low. Initially, Chinese purchases were of Iranian oil due to fears of additional US sanctions, but favorable market conditions led to a much more serious accumulation. Chinese oil inventories are low and it expects the current level of imports to continue for the next few months, as buyers take advantage of low prices to rebuild their stocks. Most analysts believe that the economic impact of the US-China trade war will begin to reduce oil demand in the second half of this year, as the economy begins to slow.