- More than 1 in 3 French citizens living in the Benelux countries support the pro-EU candidate in this weekend’s presidential poll. That is according to a survey of the Union des Français du Benelux’s 30,000 members. 37% said they would vote for Emmanuel Macron, a former economy minister and ex-banker. François Fillon, a conservative ex-prime minister, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, an outspoken leftist, each garnered around 23%. Benoît Hamon, the Socialist party candidate, drew 8%, with 5% supporting the anti-EU populist Marine Le Pen. The poll was conducted 10-14 April. There are approximately 40,000 French nationals living in Luxembourg, with another 40,000 or so in the Netherlands and some 330,000 in Belgium.
- The move into new premises is a “pivotal moment” for RTL Luxembourg, said its former CEO, Alain Berwick. He launched construction of the media firm’s new HQ back in 2008, and will remain with the company to see it through until he officially retires in August. Around 600 employees will work in the new 22,000 m2 site, he stated. It cost around €20m to kit out RTL Luxembourg’s TV and radio facilities, and another €20m for Broadcasting Center Europe, also part of RTL Group. The building itself cost €85m.
- The International Monetary Fund has increased its growth forecast for Luxembourg this year. The grand duchy’s economy is set to rise 3.7% in 2017, compared to its last estimate of 3.1%, issued in October. The IMF has now reckoned that Luxembourg’s economy will grow 3.5% in 2018. The institution also thought that the global economy would grow 3.7% this year and 3.6% in 2018; in the euro zone, GDP was expected to rise 1.7% in 2017 and 1.6% next year.
- Luxembourg’s banking sector collectively posted net profits (before capital reserves) of €6.4bn last year, a rise of 14.9% over 2015, reported the financial regulator CSSF. The agency stated: “The magnitude of the increase is exceptional”.
- Fitch has reiterated its top notch credit rating for Luxembourg government bonds. The country also has “AAA” scores from the other major international ratings agencies: S&P, Moody’s and DBRS. Fitch reckoned that Luxembourg could benefit from financial firms transferring operations to the country post-Brexit, according to a government statement. A higher rating means the treasury pays lower interest rates.