In June, the number of companies filing for bankruptcy in Germany increased 2.4 percent year-on-year, according to data published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), Nova.News reported. “The transportation sector recorded the highest number of insolvencies per 10 companies, with 11.3 cases. The construction and restaurant sectors followed, with 9.8 insolvencies per 10 companies each,” the report states. Data published by Destatis shows that wholesale commodity prices in Germany increased 0.9 percent year-on-year in June.
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The struggles continue for global automakers in China, Electrek reported. After halting production, Volkswagen announced it will close a plant in China. And that’s not all: Another OEM is filing for bankruptcy through its joint venture. Although it might not seem significant, China is one of, if not the most important markets, for Volkswagen, accounting for around 30% of its deliveries. Volkswagen has already halted production at its manufacturing plant in Nanjing and plans to close it officially later this year. The Nanjing facility was opened by VW’s joint venture, SAIC Volkswagen, in 2008.
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Restart Energy One, a Romanian independent energy supplier and renewable project developer, has proposed repaying just 17% of the face value of its bond debt as part of a restructuring plan submitted under a pre-insolvency procedure, Romania Insider reported. The company published the proposal in a report to the Bucharest Stock Exchange on July 9. The plan allocates RON 5.62 million to bondholders against total outstanding bond obligations amounting to RON 16.4 million and EUR 3.35 million, or approximately RON 33 million, Ziarul Financiar reported.
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Accusations against Mouzenidis Travel are becoming known, according to the bankruptcy trustee of the travel agency, who filed a complaint with law enforcement, Russian authorities for fraud and document forgery against the former heads of the once powerful travel operator, the trustee claims, MONEY & TOURISM reported. The communication includes details (VAT number, managers, etc.).
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The European Central Bank should refrain from lowering interest rates again after inflation in the 20-nation currency area hit the 2% target in June, rate setter Isabel Schnabel said Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported. “Our interest rates are also in a good place, and the bar for another rate cut is very high,” Schnabel said in an interview with Econostream Media. The ECB last month reduced its key rate for the eighth time since June 2024, with some policymakers suggesting it is nearing the end of the cutting cycle.
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Britain’s Labour Party ended a year in power in misery last week, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a U-turn on plans to cut welfare spending and Rachel Reeves, the chancellor of the Exchequer, was caught looking teary-eyed in Parliament, the New York Times reported. The second year is already shaping up to be just as challenging. On Tuesday, the Office for Budget Responsibility, an independent watchdog, said Britain’s public finances were in a “vulnerable position” after a series of major global economic shocks.

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While airline bankruptcy news in the U.S. have been dominated by Silver Airways and Spirit Airlines, a number of smaller airlines from around the world have also struggled to the point of having to cease operations over the last year, The Street reported. Founded as a charter and cargo airline meant to link the Western European nation with China, Air Belgium was accruing annual losses of €22 million (roughly $24 million USD) at the time it filed for bankruptcy protection and was ordered to go into liquidation.

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