Title: National Bank Governor Faces Criticism Over Savings Interest Rates Subtitle: PS Chairman Accuses National Bank of Spreading Ultra-Liberal Discourse Date: June 20, 2023 In a recent development, the governor of the National Bank (NBB), Pierre Wunsch, has come under fire for his stance on savings interest rates. The controversy arose after Vooruit deputy prime … Read more
Savers are entitled to a ‘fair’ payment on their savings accounts. If not, the banks could be in danger of losing the trump card of the loyal Belgian savings public. The deputy governor of the National Bank (NBB), Steven Vanackere, warned of this on Wednesday. The government has asked the National Bank for advice on … Read more
The cost explosion due to more expensive energy and wage increases is certainly cutting into the profit margin of Belgian companies. The profit of the median company fell from 16.8 to 14.3 percent. ‘The 1 percent largest companies distort the picture of the profit trend upwards.’ It is a major discussion between social partners. Employers’ … Read more
The Belgian economy is holding up better than expected. In the fourth quarter alone, GDP fell by at least 0.1 percent. “However, we run the risk of ending up in a wage-price spiral.” For banking economists it was a certainty: Belgium is entering a recession. Even the National Bank had been predicting a (limited) recession … Read more
The National Bank’s share, half owned by the government, was suspended from the stock exchange at the request of that bank. This is pending a press release. A significant profit warning is expected. – It is currently not possible to trade in SNB shares. It has come under increasing pressure lately. It recently traded at … Read more
Life is much more expensive for singles than for two-income couples. I’ve been looking for a ‘normal’ house to buy, renovate and upgrade for a while now. I have a decent wage, but as a single person I can save less than most couples I know, because I have to bear all the costs alone. … Read more
– © NBB – Young dogs see toys in everything and nibble at everything they find. Even on euro notes. While Grégory was tinkering in his garage at home, his 8-month-old Golden Retriever managed to take a cash envelope from the counter. “I thought I had worked for nothing,” says the resident of Liège. Fortunately, … Read more
The National Bank (NBB) is not assisting Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen) in developing a proposal to allow energy companies that record surplus profits to make a crisis contribution. – The minister had requested the bank on Tuesday to further elaborate such a measure, but the NBB, through vice-governor Steven Vanackere, stated on … Read more
– Pierre Wunsch, Governor of the National Bank of Belgium. — © BELGIAN – Less than three months after its most recent report, the National Bank is already adjusting its economic outlook. What seems? Despite sky-high energy prices and the war in Ukraine, the Belgian economy will continue to grow this year, albeit slightly less … Read more