SPAIN: Country profile

Not only is Spain the eighth most important economy in the world; it is also the eighth biggest investor and the ninth recipient of FDI. The continued dynamism of its economy is shown by its growth in recent years: ahead of the European average (3.9% in 2006 compared with 2.9% in the EU-25 and 2.8% in the euro-zone).

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Time for central bankers to take Spanish lessons:

Not many banks have emerged from recent events with their reputations intact. Santander might be the exception that proves the rule.

A decade ago the bank was barely known outside Spain's business community or Latin America. Now it is emerging as one of the more savvy survivors of Europe's banking storm.

Not only is Santander snapping up cut-price assets (such as the juiciest parts of Bradford & Bingley) but it has also avoided the credit horrors that have triggered the humiliation of so many other mighty European names.And while that sunny vista might yet change - after all, not even bankers seem truly to know what their banks hold these days - Santander's run looks doubly remarkable given that Spain is in the aftermath of a property boom.

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G-20: España, de lo regional a lo global:

Nuestro país ya estaba en la Unión Europea, la OTAN y la comunidad iberoamericana. Ahora ha hecho bien en pugnar por incorporarse a un foro que puede sentar las bases de un nuevo escenario internacional

Not only is Santander snapping up cut-price assets (such as the juiciest parts of Bradford & Bingley) but it has also avoided the credit horrors that have triggered the humiliation of so many other mighty European names.And while that sunny vista might yet change - after all, not even bankers seem truly to know what their banks hold these days - Santander's run looks doubly remarkable given that Spain is in the aftermath of a property boom.