Portugal’s TAP Draws Three Major Bidders as Swiss Inflation Anticipates Slight Acceleration

Group 1: TAP Privatization - Portugal's state-owned airline TAP has received three formal expressions of interest from major European carriers: IAG, Air France-KLM, and Lufthansa for a minority stake as part of its privatization efforts [3][10] - The Portuguese government plans to sell a 44.9% stake to a strategic airline partner and an additional 5% to TAP employees, while retaining a controlling 50.1% stake in the airline [4][10] - TAP's strategic assets include vital connections to Brazil, Portuguese-speaking African countries, and the United States from its Lisbon hub, which the government aims to preserve and expand [4][5] Group 2: Swiss Inflation Outlook - Swiss National Bank President Martin Schlegel anticipates a slight acceleration in consumer-price growth in Switzerland in the coming quarters, although current inflation remains at the lower end of the SNB's target range of 0% to 2% [6][10] - The central bank's forecasts project inflation to average 0.2% in 2025, rising to 0.5% in 2026 and 0.7% in 2027, while maintaining an expansionary monetary policy with interest rates at zero [7] - Schlegel noted that uncertainty remains high due to potential downside risks from suspended U.S. tariffs on certain pharmaceutical products, with analysts expecting the SNB to keep interest rates unchanged at 0% in the upcoming decision [8]