Former publisher and editor of Spero News

The most slippery item in the food and beverage component in Spain's consumer price index - olive oil

Analysts see long-term upside for shares of GasNatural SDG SA (E.CTG), but are more cautious on the near-term outlook for the stock.

The Spanish peseta isn't a peripheral currency. At least that's what participants in Spain have been saying for the past few months. And that the peseta failed to move last week on Italy's political woes is being touted as further proof that the peseta is more mark-sensitive than anything else.

Analysts expect the sale this month of a chunk of Empresa Nacional de Electricidad SA, or Endesa, to weigh on the state-run Spanish electric utility's share price.

Investors might be reluctant to put money into a stock that had climbed about 48% since the end of last year, but analysts still have "buy" ratings on shares of Acerinox SA.

The Bank of Spain's decision Friday to cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% surprised nobody.

Analysts see long-term upside for shares of GasNatural SDG SA (E.CTG), but are more cautious on the near-term outlook for the stock.

The Spanish central bank lowered its key money-market interest rate in a move analysts said was driven mainly by the desire to weaken the peseta. However, the currency strengthened instead.