Business · Markets · 5 hrs ago

Spain’s new investment account may qualify fewer than 10% of domestic funds

Spain’s new investment account may qualify fewer than 10% of domestic funds

Spain has approved a new savings and investment account intended to encourage people to invest for the long term.

It is designed to move some of the more than €1 trillion that households hold in deposits that pay no interest into investments linked to Europe.

People will be able to invest up to €150,000 in eligible assets, including shares, investment funds and exchange-traded funds.

Banks and securities firms can offer the accounts, but investment fund managers cannot.

Funds must meet strict rules, including investing at least 70% of their value in assets linked to the European Economic Area.

Market estimates say fewer than 10% of Spanish funds qualify, and those funds represent less than 5% of total fund assets.

Fund industry group Inverco supports efforts to promote long-term investment but says the rules are too restrictive and proposes allowing funds to meet them gradually.

Sources

Related news