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The Bundesbank said the German economy is likely to stagnate in the last three months of the year

German economy to stagnate as labour market cools

The German economy is likely to stagnate in the last three months of the year as the labour market continues to soften and possible new trade tariffs loom, the country's central bank said today.

Business • 19 Nov 24

The telecommunications cable being laid in the Baltic Sea off the shore of Helsinki in Finland in 2015

EU nations investigating 'sabotage' of Baltic Sea cables

European governments have accused Russia of escalating hybrid attacks on Ukraine's Western allies, as Baltic nations investigated whether the cutting of two fibre-optic telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea was sabotage.

World • 19 Nov 24

Germany's ZEW Institute reported a stronger-than-expected decline in its economic sentiment index to 7.4 points from 13.1 points in October

German investor morale falls, rattled by Trump

German investor morale clouded over this month, an economic research institute said today, as Donald Trump's US election win and the collapse of the government in Berlin unleashed added uncertainty on Germany's already ailing economy.

Business • 12 Nov 24

Vodafone said that despite the customer losses in Germany, growth in Turkey, Africa and other European markets helped revenue grow in the first half

Vodafone says it is on track despite Germany weakness

Mobile operator Vodafone has today reported a sharp downturn in Germany, it biggest market, in the second quarter after it was hit by a change in the law on TV sales, sending its shares 4% lower.

Business • 12 Nov 24

The German chancellor's political rivals have threatened to block his minority government from passing laws unless he immediately seeks a confidence vote

German president steps in amid vote date deadlock

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has stepped in to mediate discussions between parties deadlocked over the date for early elections brought on by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government.

Europe • 11 Nov 24

Germany is struggling with high energy costs and eroding competitiveness

What does Germany's struggling economy mean for Ireland?

It's the world's third largest economy, but Germany is currently the worst performer among the Group of Seven major economies. The country is struggling with high energy costs and eroding competitiveness and is experiencing some of the worst growth rates in Europe.

Business • 11 Nov 24

Germany was plunged into political turmoil when Mr Scholz's three-party coalition collapsed after the chancellor fired his finance minister earlier this week

Germany's Scholz is open to election date discussions

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, mired in a political crisis, has said he is open to discussions on whether to move forward snap elections he had expected to be held by March.

Europe • 08 Nov 24

A session of the German Bundestag on 18 October before the collapse of the three-party coalition

German president calls for 'reason' amid political crisis

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for "reason and responsibility" amid the political crisis sparked by the collapse of country's ruling three-party coalition

World • 07 Nov 24

Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner was fired from his post yesterday

Germany's Scholz fires rebellious finance minister

Joerg Kukies, a member of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats and a close ally of the chancellor, will be named Germany's new finance minister, government sources said today.

Business • 07 Nov 24

Mr Scholz said he had sacked Mr Lindner because he there was no longer any "basis of trust"

Scholz to hold January confidence vote as minister sacked

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will hold a confidence vote in mid-January, which could trigger new elections by March.

World • 07 Nov 24

BMW said today it was on track to meet its adjusted full-year financial outlook

BMW profit dives by 61% and misses expectations

BMW has today reported a 61% drop in its third-quarter profit that missed analyst expectations because of slumping China sales and brake problems, but said it was on track to meet its adjusted full-year financial outlook.

Business • 06 Nov 24

Puma said its quarterly results were driven by selling more soccer and running shoes in the quarter, with footwear sales up 9.3%

Puma's third quarter sales miss market expectations

German sportswear maker Puma's third-quarter sales missed expectations today, despite a 5% rise driven by running and soccer shoes demand, as negative effects from foreign exchange rates continued to weigh on the business.

Business • 06 Nov 24

DHL's revenue grew by 6.2% in the third quarter, but its net profit fell 6.9% to €751m

DHL posts weakened free cash flow for third quarter

DHL has today reported third-quarter free cash flow well below market expectations, in another hit to its shares that have lost nearly a fifth of their value this year.

Business • 05 Nov 24

People board an S-Bahn commuter train at Neukölln station in Berlin

Manhunt after explosives left at Berlin train station

German police were searching for a man after he fled a police check at a busy Berlin railway station and left behind a bag containing explosives.

World • 31 Oct 24

The euro zone recorded growth of 0.4% over the three months from July to September, new figures show today

Euro zone growth beats forecasts but outlook still muted

The euro zone economy grew faster than expected last quarter but threats of oversized tariffs from a potential Trump presidency along with escalating trade tensions with China are keeping the outlook muted.

Business • 30 Oct 24

The German economy expanded by 0.2% in the third quarter compared with the previous three-month period, preliminary data shows today

German economy unexpectedly grows, inflation rises

Germany's gross domestic product unexpectedly increased in the third quarter, skirting a recession, but inflation rose more than expected in October, interrupting the downward trend in Europe's troubled largest economy.

Business • 30 Oct 24

Volkswagen, Europe's top automaker, has cut its annual outlook twice during the third quarter

Volkswagen Q3 profit slumps as major overhaul looms

Volkswagen said today that its third-quarter operating profit plunged 42% as weak performance in the core passenger car unit and high costs, including for model revamps, hit the automaker.

Business • 30 Oct 24

Volkswagen is threatening to shut at least three factories in Germany and lay off tens of thousands of staff

German car industry transformation may cost 186,000 jobs

The transformation of the German car industry could lead to 186,000 jobs losses by 2035, of which roughly a quarter have already occurred, a study commissioned by the VDA auto industry association released today showed.

Business • 29 Oct 24

Jamshid Sharmahd seen at the first hearing of his trial in Tehran on 6 February 2022

Germany recalls ambassador to Iran over execution

Germany has recalled its ambassador to Iran over the execution of German-Iranian national Jamshid Sharmahd.

World • 29 Oct 24

Lufthansa's third-quarter operating profit of €1.3 billion was in line with the expectations of analysts polled by the company, but 9% lower than a year earlier

Lufthansa reports 9% decline in third-quarter profit

German airline group Lufthansa has today reported a year-on-year fall in its operating profit in the third quarter, as its flagship brand struggles with low yields, competition with international airlines and spiralling costs.

Business • 29 Oct 24

Germany'sIfo institute said its business climate index increased to 86.5 in October from 85.4 the previous month

German business sentiment rises in October - Ifo

German business morale improved more than expected in October, a survey showed today, offering hope for some respite towards the end of the year in the economy's grinding battle with industrial woes and weak global demand.

Business • 25 Oct 24

German premium car maker Mercedes-Benz said its third-quarter earnings in the core car division plunged by 64%

Mercedes car earnings plunge as China shuns luxury

German premium automaker Mercedes-Benz said today its third-quarter earnings in the core car division plunged by 64%, massively missing analysts' estimates, as Chinese consumers continued to cut back on luxury goods in a weakening economy.

Business • 25 Oct 24

German software company SAP has raised its full-year targets on a strong cloud business in the third quarter

SAP shares hit all-time high after upbeat cloud outlook

Shares in SAP were up 5% today, hitting an all-time high of €221 after the German software company raised its full-year targets on a strong cloud business in the third quarter.

Business • 22 Oct 24

The German ministries of Lower Saxony, Saxony, Hesse and Berlin have vowed to work together to save Volkswagen sites

German states to work together to save Volkswagen sites

The four German states with a Volkswagen presence want to work together to ensure that the struggling carmaker does not shut any of its plants, the states' economy ministries said in a joint position paper seen by Reuters.

Business • 15 Oct 24

'Checkpoint Charlie' in Berlin pictured in the 1970s

Ex-Stasi officer jailed over 1974 Berlin border killing

A former East German secret police officer was sentenced to ten years in jail for shooting dead a Polish man trying to flee to the West 50 years ago, in a landmark ruling.

World • 14 Oct 24