Yields for high-yield corporate bonds have fallen from between 8 and 9 percent prior to the recession to near 7 percent, contributing to the robust pace of issuance of these securities over the past few years. Partly as a result of these actions, business spending for investment in equipment and software has been relatively robust in the past several years.
4. In the beginning of January 2019 we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the European Monetary Union although euro banknotes and coins only began to circulate in 2002. Portugal was among its eleven founding Member States. For millions of young European citizens the euro is the only national currency they know.