Norges Bank Holds Key Rate Steady, Says Cut Remains Unlikely This Year

Norway’s central bank held its key policy rate at 4.5% as a weak krone continues to threaten efforts to bring inflation down, the Wall Street Journal reported. The policy rate has been at 4.5% since December 2023 and has helped to significantly dampen inflation from its peak, but a rapid rise in business costs and the krone’s depreciation will likely restrain further disinflation, Norges Bank said. Forecasts presented at its September meeting indicated a gradual reduction in the policy rate from the first quarter of 2025.
Norway
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Czech Central Bank Cuts Key Interest Rate to 4% as Inflation Stays Low

The Czech Republic’s central bank on Thursday cut its key interest rate for the eighth time in a row as inflation remains low and as the economy is making a slow recovery, the Associated Press reported. The cut, which had been predicted by analysts, brought the interest rate down by a quarter of a percentage point to 4%. The bank started to trim borrowing costs by a quarter-point on Dec. 21, the first cut since June 22, 2022. Further cuts of half a percentage point followed on Feb. 8, March 20, May 2, and June 27. Cuts of a quarter of a percentage point came on Aug. 1 and Sept. 25.
Czech Republic
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Italy Minister Open to Reviewing Tax Hike on Cryptocurrencies

Italy's economy minister said on Thursday he was ready to review proposals to raise a tax on cryptocurrency capital gains, after pressure from some lawmakers in his own party to drop the plan, Reuters reported. "I am willing to consider different forms of taxation for people who keep investments in their portfolio," Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said. Under the 2025 budget, to be approved by parliament by end-December, the Treasury intends to hike taxation on capital gains from cryptocurrency such as bitcoin to 42% from 26%.
Italy
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Atos Agrees to Sell Worldgrid Unit to Alten for €270 Million

Atos SE, the troubled French technology company that’s been fighting to avert bankruptcy, has agreed to sell its Worldgrid unit for €270 million ($294 million) including debt, Bloomberg News reported. French engineering and tech consultant Alten SA has received regulatory approvals to acquire Worldgrid, which provides consulting and engineering services to utility companies, and the deal is expected to close before the end of the year, Atos said in a statement on Tuesday.
France
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